TCNJ

4 Introducing Chinasa Tyler! Chinasa is a full-time graduate student in the School of Education. She first came to TCNJ in the Spring of 2014 to pursue the Master of Arts in School Counseling program. She is also in the process of working towards her SAC certification. She expects to graduate in May 2016. Before coming to TCNJ, she received her B.S. in Public Health from Stockton College where she also minored in Gerontology. After graduating from her undergraduate program, she found it difficult to find a job for which she had a passion. Chinasa knew that she had a strong desire to work with children in an educational setting. From a young age she was given the task of raising her nephew, a responsibility she says first in- spired her love and passion for children. Knowing that teaching was not the right route for her, she decided that school counseling would be a bet- ter program to pursue. Having had a difficult past herself, she wanted to be able to be there for children who were in need of assistance, interven- tion, and guidance. Chinasa says that meeting the faculty at her admis- sion interview is what impressed her most about TCNJ. Over the course of her education, Chinasa has been an intern at Jefferson Elementary School in Tren- ton, New Jersey as a school counselor. She also interned at Hedgepeth Middle School and Trenton Central High School, both of which are also located in Trenton, New Jersey. She is a member of the MCPCA (Mercer County Professional Counselors Association). This past year, Dr. Mark Woodford and Dr. Atsuko Seto rec- ommended her for the Minority Fellowship Award by the National Board of Certified Counselors. She won this award and earned an accompanying scholarship. In her spare time, Chinasa enjoys teaching music to the children at her church. She also enjoys ballet, contemporary, and hip-hop dancing. After graduation, Chinasa dreams of working in an urban school district as a school counselor. The middle school population would be her preference, as she realizes there is a real need for counseling during that difficult, transitioning age. As someone who is nearing the end of her graduate education, Chinasa has insightful advice to share with those who may just be starting out or even those who may be thinking about graduate school in the near future. She says that it is key to remain patient with yourself and try not to overthink the process all future counselors must complete to obtain licensure and employment. She underscores the importance of utilizing the great staff at TCNJ. Chinasa says that throughout her studies the staff as been extremely helpful in many capacities, whenever she has needed them. Student Feature: Chinasa Tyler

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