By Reese Meister
Last year in the beginning of February, Yesenia Palacio joined the Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) staff as a guidance specialist. She looks forward to the new experiences this year will have to offer.
“I’m excited to meet all the students—excited to help support them [and] be involved for the entire school year because this will be my first full year at Fountain Valley High School,” Palacio said. “And just get to know students and staff.”
Though Palacio is new to FVHS, she has had plenty of experience in guidance counseling. Before coming to the Barons’ campus, Palacio worked as a guidance specialist at Huntington Beach High School for ten years, and her passion for her work is clear.
“I love helping students, seeing them grow from incoming ninth graders to senior year and watching them graduate,” Palacio said. “Then hearing about their plan after high school.”
As a guidance specialist, Palacio’s responsibilities range anywhere from answering questions about college admissions to helping with student schedules. All of the tasks she performs are geared toward helping FVHS students achieve their goals, whether they are intended for high school or further in the future.
From her own experiences, Palacio has a deep understanding of the significance of her role in students’ high school and post-high school plans.
“I was actually the first person in my entire family to graduate from college,” Palacio said. “I just know how important it is for school staff to help students and advocate for them and support them in any way that they can… I feel like my high school teachers—they were really helpful to me.”
Palacio grew up in Los Angeles and enjoyed her personal experience in high school, where she was invested in learning. She had always known that she wanted to attend college and became very involved in school.
Palacio graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree and is currently in the process of earning her master’s from Concordia University Irvine. Being such a hard worker, she admits that she doesn’t have a lot of free time on her hands.
“I have a three year old daughter… and I’m going to school full time as well,” Palacio said. “So I don’t have too many hobbies right now. But before that I would make crafts.”
Palacio especially enjoys creating decorative posters and banners with her Cricut machine when she can.
Palacio also seems to have a deep passion for working with students. Even before becoming a guidance specialist, she had developed an enthusiasm for helping others.
“I love working with students. I started working with students when I was in college, and I was tutoring students in English, literacy and mathematics,” Palacio said.
There is no doubt that Palacio will make a great addition to the FVHS staff. The Barons are lucky to have the support of someone so hardworking and passionate about helping others.
“My main goals for working here [are] just making a positive difference, helping as many students as I can, just having students know that they can come to me if they ever need anything—having an open door policy and being involved with the school,” Palacio said.
