IMPACT Grant Candidate Spotlight

Read about a new candidate for this grant each month. Discover what motivates them to enter this field and the passion they bring to become a licensed school counselor.

Ami Borawski currently serves as an English Language Arts teacher for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students at Hampshire Unit School. With a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education and a minor in Biblical Studies, Ami brings a strong educational foundation to her classroom. Her decision to pursue school counseling stems from her recognition that teaching inherently involves significant counseling work. 

 

When not dedicated to her students, Ami enjoys staying active through regular workouts, reading, watching shows, and making lattes for others. Her experience in the school counseling program has significantly expanded her understanding of mental health and reinforced the vital role that school counselors play in students' lives. Lipscomb's school counseling program has shown her that everyone faces mental health challenges, but counselors create environments of peace, trust, and assurance where students can build confidence and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

 

Throughout most of her career, Ami has worked in Title 1 schools, where she has taught many children facing extremely challenging home situations. She has witnessed firsthand how students deal with the residual effects of both their own decisions and those of their parents or guardians. For many of these young people, their only support systems and coping resources come from teachers, coaches, school staff, or counselors. Ami deeply understands that students struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and numerous other mental health issues. 

 

As she transitions into her role as a school counselor, she is committed to addressing not just students' academic needs but also equipping them with the skills necessary to develop into high-functioning, successful adults—a mission that drives her counseling aspirations and will make her an invaluable asset to the mental health support system at her school.