From catching the school bus with the unforgettable Uncle Rogers to discovering a love for learning in math class, this GESS alumna has many fond memories from her time at GESS. After graduating, she took some time to explore before finding her calling in psychology and counselling. Today, she’s the Assistant Director and Counsellor at The Counselling Place, helping people take charge of their mental health.
Hi Anne, when did you start studying at GESS, and which graduation year were you in?
I studied at GESS from 2004 (year 7) up to 2010 (year 12).
Can you tell us about your time at GESS? What are some of your fondest memories from school?
My fondest memories include uncle Rogers and his fleet of school buses. My siblings and I lived extremely close to school and had the privilege of having uncle Rogers be our bus driver. I still remember him yelling “everyone inside the buuuus” through his mega-phone at the end of the school day or getting annoyed at anyone adjusting the AC inside his bus: “I’ll chop your fingers off!”. GESS lost a legend and a huge part of his culture when he left.
Another fond memory was of Mr Voelker, my year 7 Math teacher. Before moving to Singapore, I always thought I wasn’t a good student. However, Mr Voelker helped me realize that I had the potential to do great. He made math fun with his little games and strange food tastings, but he also made it easy to understand. Thanks to him I became one of the top students in his class, which motivated me to do well in other subjects too.
Of course, I also have to mention the monkeys, which chased us, stole our lunch, and started fights all the time.
How was your journey after graduating from GESS? Did you immediately enrol in university, or did you first explore other paths?
After graduation I took a gap year to figure out what I wanted to study. I spent the year pursuing local work experiences and travelling before starting my Bachelors of Psychology at James Cook University, Singapore.
Are you currently working and how did you get started in that field of work? Did you always know that you wanted to work there, or was it something you discovered later?
I honestly never thought I’d become a therapist, as my original dream was to become a doctor, but I quickly realized that I’m not cut out for all that studying. I loved studying psychology and pursued a Masters in Counselling afterwards to be able to work in the mental health field. My journey was a bit rocky though. I needed a long-term visa to enroll in the Masters program (it was a part-time course only), and as a non-PR holder, I was forced to find full-time employment while studying part-time. I ended up working in IT for 3 years while completing my course.
Can you share a bit about your role as Assistant Director & Counsellor at The Counselling Place? What does a typical day look like for you?
My role can be split into two parts: counselling work & director work. As a counsellor, I provide therapy services to individuals, couples and families for all types of mental health concerns (e.g. stress, anger management, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, etc.), crisis support, EAP services, and mental health workshops. As a director, I get to assist in running the counselling clinic, which involves wearing many hats – manager, admin, accounting, and IT. A typical day is usually a healthy mix of the two roles.
What are some of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
My favorite part about my work is to help and empower individuals to take control of their mental health, be it through therapy or workshops. Although mental health is becoming more and more talked about and normalized, stigma around struggling with mental health concerns/conditions and accessing support services still exist. As a result, I’ve worked with many individuals who were talked into seeking help by a loved one, but who don’t actually want the support, which makes therapy very ineffective. It can also be very frustrating when your clients don’t put in the work outside of therapy sessions and then claim that therapy is ineffective. It’s like wanting to learn to play the violin, but only actually playing it during lessons. Progress will be extremely slow that way.
Looking back, were there any specific teachers, mentors, or experiences at GESS that you now realize had a significant impact on your professional journey? How did your education at GESS shape your career path and personal growth?
I’ve had many amazing teachers – Mr Teichert, Mr Voelker, & Mr Burmeier – that helped me grow into the person I am today. Each of them helped me realize my own potential and empowered me to grow and thrive.
If you could give one piece of advice to current GESS students, what would it be?
Don’t feel pressured to figure out your whole future by year 12! There are so many paths and opportunities to explore, many of which you would have never thought of or maybe even never heard of. Take your time on this journey, and feel free to change direction mid-way.
What advice would you give to students considering a future career in counselling?
As counselling is a regulated field, make sure your degree is recognized in the country you want to work in, e.g. my degree from James Cook University is recognized by counselling associations in Singapore and Australia, allowing me to be accredited in both countries as a counsellor.
Also, make sure to do your research to identify which career path is best for you. Initially I chose counselling because of the good career prospects in Singapore, however, I have since moved to Australia where being a psychologist would have been the better option.
