A Map of the Guidance Suite: Part Two

Disclaimer: This the the second and final part of the “A Map of the Guidance Suite” series included in Issue 13. There are a few other memorable counselors that were unable to participate due to scheduling issues, time constraints, and other personal reasons.

The guidance suite provides a tranquil pause from Stuyvesant’s hectic hallways crowded with the bustle of students. The space encompasses many compact, personalized cubicles—the working areas for the guidance counselors. However, a place is made all the more meaningful when one has a map of the people that give it soul. It is crucial to consider the staff who aid students through various aspects of their personal and academic lives—from adapting to changes to advice—and to appreciate their narratives.

Paul Goldsman:

In room 236O, located in the very left-hand corner of the guidance suite, counselor Paul Goldsman leaves his door open to welcome streams of students wishing to talk. People can be found leaning onto the door frame and chatting away with Goldsman. 

Goldsman found himself at Stuyvesant roughly nine years ago, when an old acquaintance informed him about an available position. “An old supervisor from my previous school, Eric Contreras, reached out to inform me of a counselor opening. I was ecstatic to hear from him and agreed to come in for an interview,” Goldsman explained in an email interview. Upon securing the position, Goldsman established—and continues to maintain—a welcoming and compassionate approach to his students’ struggles. He understands that students find long-lasting solutions when given a space to simply express their thoughts. “I think, in many instances, students aren’t always looking for advice; they just want someone to listen,” he described.

Thanks to his kind colleagues and hardworking students, Goldsman feels right at home at Stuyvesant. “I admire how dedicated our students are towards everything they do! They always show a fierce amount of focus and attention in their work,” he stated. 

Goldsman’s respect for commitment stems from his own academic background. Right after undergraduate school at Binghamton, he went straight to acquiring a master’s degree in counselor education at Queens College instead of finding a job, prioritizing his long-term success over his short-term financial strain. “It was worth it, since going to grad school and working as a school counselor simultaneously would be challenging,” Goldsman reasoned.

In his leisure time, Goldsman enjoys trying new recipes; he can make a two ingredient cookie and bake a three ingredient cheesecake! As a Jets, Knicks, and Mets fan, the counselor enjoys watching sports. Goldsman also finds joy in being a loving uncle.

Words of Advice: “If a student knows that they will be taking an AP class in September, they can utilize the summer to review the AP curriculum and watch videos that support the content. Putting in some extra time during the summer to prepare for the upcoming semester can make a world of difference!” 

—Paul Goldsman

Angel Colon: 

Upon entering the guidance suite, the first door to your left opens to Room 236R—counselor Angel Colon’s office. Colon has been supporting the Stuyvesant High School community since 2005. 

Colon began his Stuyvesant career as a “Substance Abuse Prevention Intervention Specialist”; his job was to help prevent or reduce substance use in schools. “Eventually, it evolved into other areas of mental health. And then I was setting up a lot of positive, alternative pro-social activities for students at Stuyvesant, which was my opening to the school,” Colon elaborated. The program moved to a different school after sixteen years at Stuyvesant, but Colon chose to stay. “There was an opportunity to still stay at Stuyvesant and continue doing the work, and I started to be invested in school counseling,” he shared.

The student body’s diversity attracted Colon to Stuyvesant. “It starts with you guys, your background, your stories, your family, your origins, and tapping into your strength,” he described. In order to effectively help students, Colon believes that, first, their diversity must be taken into account. Another aspect that keeps Colon at Stuyvesant is how students contribute to his personal growth: “You guys keep me young […] I always feel like I’m getting a new education through the work that I see through students,” Colon noted.

Due to the complexities of teenagehood and the versatility of student experience, Colon holds himself and educators to a high standard: “If you’re invested in education, you’re doing this work because you care about the people that you’re exposed to,” he said. Counselors must consider the impact various people in students’ lives have on them. which can be challenging. Colon hopes that Stuyvesant is able to overcome the current uncertainties with the Department of Education. 

Colon’s main goal at Stuyvesant is simple: to help his students overcome challenges that are prevalent in today’s society. “The goal for everyone is just to help every young scholar navigate through these four years and beyond,” Colon remarked. He has taken personal initiative to learn more about the pool of students he is trying to help, which is how he learned that technology is a rising factor of contention between old and new generations. “There’s this addiction to technology [...] there are obviously areas of misuse, misinformation. [Technology] is being weaponized in a way where it’s become the new education versus the proper or old school generation,” Colon explained. He plans to use what he learns to improve his interactions with students and better assist their journeys through high school up until their college preparations.

Although Colon is working hard to improve the way he counsels, he has emphasized how helping students and children of this generation achieve their goals is not a one-man job.“It takes a village in terms of raising a child—it involves the teachers, faculty—and I think that’s where we want [to be]: always having the conversations with the young people and seeing what their goals are,” Colon remarked. In order to truly help the students, team effort is crucial; taking into account what their goals for their future, for college and afterwards, is of the utmost importance. 

Although Colon is very invested in his hectic but meaningful work life, his personal life balances it all out. “I keep life simple. When I clock out of this building and start heading home, I reflect on my day. I try to see what was accomplished, what was not accomplished, and things to be followed up the next day,” Colon described. While the weekdays remain more mundane, Colon taps into his hobbies more towards the weekend. He enjoys watching TV, from popular shows and anime to documentaries. He also enjoys reading, especially non-fiction topics, which allows him to connect with his students on a deeper level. Aside from his education driven hobbies, Colon revealed himself to be a huge Lego fan! “I have Lego projects that I work on, whether it be cars or a type of sci-fi character,” he shared.

Colon is a multi-faceted person with a deep personality and a passion for helping others. He is a talkative person who creates an open environment for students coming to ask for advice. 

Words of Advice: “We’re all trying to navigate together in these tough times. And sometimes, we have to be patient. We have to be open-minded in understanding each other. We’re not perfect. We make mistakes or have temporary setbacks, but we’ll get through it together.” 

—Angel Colon

Counselors, among other staff, are necessary for the proper functioning of Stuyvesant’s guidance suite—an open space where students can freely be individuals. Making an effort to get to know them is a step towards our own success and future—one that would be lacking if not for their support. After all, stories have always been a bridge between people and improve ways of communication. Learning more about the community around you assists in formulating your own journey.