“That is not to say ….
“That is not to say it has not been challenging working with high school students, but I can honestly say this experience confirmed for me that school counseling is exactly what I want to do. I am so glad that I was still able to do my internship even with the global pandemic going on, and I feel like this has helped me get a look at some of the things that will never quite be the same in education even when things eventually go back to normal,” Gaetz said.
She is proud of how both Coulee Connections and Elk Mound are doing their best for their students during this difficult time.
“The consistent, positive attitude and high level of enthusiasm Erica brings to work each day have made her a highly valued and much appreciated part of our team this semester,” Goodrich said. “You can’t fake genuine. Erica has been genuinely committed to improving the lives of our students while improving her own understanding of the role our counseling team plays within the lives of our students, staff and community.”
Aside from her off-campus experiences, Gaetz was also involved in many student organizations. The connections and friendships she made on campus are what stand out most to her.
Gaetz, who has a Spanish minor, was inducted into Phi Upsilon Omicron, a scholastic honor society. She served as the society’s historian for two years. She served on the board for the Academic Honor Society as head of public relations and secretary. She was also secretary for the Stout Council on Family Relations and was president of SCFR in her final semester.
“SCFR has added so much to my life during my time at Stout. Being president has been an amazing leadership opportunity for me, and I feel like my collaborating and delegating skills have definitely grown during this time,” she said.
“Erica is truly a superhero HDFS student,” said SCFR adviser Candice Maier, an assistant professor. “She balances schoolwork with fieldwork, which is a central component of the major. Her dedication and commitment, as well as serving youth, are exceptional. Erica’s work ethic will take her far in the field.”
Gaetz will continue working with Coulee Connections while transitioning to graduate school.
“I feel like my major has definitely helped prepare me for my future career,” she said. “Stout showed me that the world is much bigger than the small town I come from. There are other ways of thinking that are different than what I had learned. My experience at Stout also helped me figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.”
Human development and family studies graduates care for people’s needs with sensitivity to age, culture, gender, sexuality and life-stages. The program is a path to many master’s studies, including marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling and social work. Graduates may also earn certificates in school counseling or social work.
