"My goal when I started the counselor ed program was to one day be the counselor at Harrison School for the Arts," says Lesley Chambers. She reached that goal four years after graduating from USF's campus in Lakeland when she was named director of student services at Harrison.

"I love the art school environment," says Lesley, who earned an undergraduate degree in music education. "All stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, administrators and the community, give so much of themselves to make Harrison an excellent place for learning. The students are a joy to work with. They are artistic, creative, and academically inclined."

Lesley became interested in counseling as an undergraduate at the University of Florida, where she took advantage of the school's career counseling and general counseling centers.

"After graduation, I became a middle school teacher," she says. "I enjoyed the opportunity to work individually or in smaller groups with the students. I liked being able to help them problem solve and listen to the issues they were dealing with."

When she decided to earn a master's degree and become a counselor, Lesley chose USF's campus in Lakeland so she could "stay home and go far."

"The fact that I lived in Lakeland and would not have to travel to and from Tampa for my degree was the main reason behind my decision, " she says.

She quickly learned, however, that the university offers much more than a convenient location.

"I am proud to say that I was part of the first cohort," she says. "The group of students that I went through the cohort with became very special. We spent three years of our lives, year-round, in classes together. We share a special bond because many of the courses in a counseling program require students to share and engage on a highly personal level. There was a lot of personal growth that occurred among all of us. The professors were practicing in the field, and that was a great preparer for my career success."

Lesley started her career success immediately after graduating, when she was hired as a counselor at Lakeland High School. Four years later she reached her goal and assumed her position at Harrison School of the Arts.

"Because of the size of the school, I handle all of the responsibilities related to college and career planning as well as the traditional duties of the school counselor," she says. "I enjoy being able to work with students and parents consecutively throughout their high school years. The building of relationships is very important to me."