“I have enjoyed my time working with both students and staff.”
Meet Ms. Nikie Iwanczuk, a school adjustment counselor here at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech. This year marks the third year of Ms. Iwanczuk working as an adjustment counselor here. She meets with about 60 students every day, and feels an immense pride when she sees these students succeed both academically and personally. She provides support and comfort for those struggling with academics and personal matters. Her goal as a counselor is to “assist the youth she works with in achieving their academic, career, and personal goals, and get outside help such as therapy.” However, sometimes the only therapy these students get is talking with her, which is why she does her best to help these students.
Ms. Iwanczuk graduated from Dartmouth High School, and enjoyed her time there as she felt it gave her a solid foundation to pursue her post-secondary education. She took her first psychology class in her senior year, which helped the direction of her future. She always knew she wanted to work with children and work in a helping profession, which she originally thought would be teaching/childcare, but her psychology classes helped her realize she wanted to help children by providing them with support and encouragement instead. She attended Bridgewater State University, and earned a graduate degree in Social Work before attending Boston University where she earned a Master’s degree. She then attended Simmons University where she earned a post-Master’s Certificate in the Treatment of Trauma. She completed two internships during college, one being working with adolescent girls in the care & custody of the Department of Youth Services and another with the Department of Children & Families (DCF) in their Adolescent Unit.
Ms. Iwanczuk worked at DCF for 11 years before beginning her work with the Department of Public Health. She became a School Adjustment Counselor in 2016, and has worked at Fall River Public Schools and Atlantis Charter School before working at GNBVT. Her hopes for the next 10 years are to still be working in a school counseling role. Her advice for new freshmen is to try something new, and explore as many opportunities as they can.
Article and Picture by: Kyan Delgado, Senior Media Technology