This year, FHN has added a new counselor, Brooke Prestidge, who will be solely dedicated to giving students college and career advice. In years past, students went to their regular counselor to discuss things regarding their future outside of high school. Students this year will have more opportunities to get their questions regarding college answered thanks to the addition of the new counselor.

“I’m looking forward to having someone to talk to that is specifically there to help us with college and career,” senior Rachel Arena said. “I think it will be especially helpful to the seniors.”

Prestidge has worked in FHSD for the past nine years. She started out as a math teacher at FHN and has spent the past four years as a guidance counselor at Howell. She was interviewed for the position of a full time counselor at FHN over the summer, and she got the job as the new college and career counselor shortly after.

“I’m really excited to be back at FHN,” Prestidge said. “‘I’m looking forward to getting to know the students.”

Prestidge will start off by meeting with seniors individually during their English literature classes sometime during the first few weeks of the school year. Students will be able to get help with applying to college, finding scholarships, preparing for the ACT and figuring out what careers they might be suited for. If a student is not taking a senior English class but is still interested in meeting with Prestidge, they can sign up in the guidance office to schedule an appointment.

“Senior year is an exciting time, and I’m excited to see what paths students will take,” Prestidge said. “ When I was in high school, I didn’t have anyone helping me and it was overwhelming, so I want to be that person that is there to help students and families.”

Prestidge will be meeting with the juniors in October to give them lessons on using the career cruising website. They will be looking at ability assessments, searching for colleges and using the career matchmaker to help them begin planning for their futures.

“It will be great to have someone to talk to about the things we are worried about regarding college,” senior Yuri Takenaka said. “I feel like our school hasn’t done that much in the past to prepare us for college, so this will be a very helpful step in the right direction.”