Ms. Heald: The Woman, The Myth, The Legend

Noah Light

Ms. Heald in her office, where she serves as College and Career Advisor at B-CC HS.

Serving over 2,200 hundred students, Catharine Heald is rarely bored in her position as College and Career Advisor at B-CC High School. She is the face of calm to over 800 seniors ready to take the next step in the world. Her motto is: “Give me your stress.”

In her role, Ms. Heald provides “guidance for what to do after high school, including gap years, jobs, and college.” Her days are packed with planning sessions for colleges to visit B-CC so students can learn more about various schools, along with countless meetings with students to guide them toward their desired future. Ms. Heald said, “[the work I do] both helps students with their struggles in the college application process and takes their stress away.” 

The college application process is undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of senior year. Ms. Heald wants students to be more relaxed throughout the process. She offers the following tips to students to alleviate stress and make the process more manageable:

1. Start the application process early, ideally the summer before senior year. Get the common application done as soon as it opens.
2. Assess your situation, and get your priorities straight when searching for what schools you’d like to go to.
3. Look at the smaller schools that aren’t listed as America’s top schools as they will be easier to get into and have more scholarship opportunities.
4. Break the steps involved in the process down to smaller parts.” “Try not to look at the big picture or else it will seem too overwhelming.

Ms. Heald said seniors should, “Make time for fun things, because it’s better for you.”

With a background in business and marketing, Ms. Heald sought out work in schools after having her daughter. She said, “I believe strongly in the future of our youth and absolutely love what I do.” Ms. Heald said that she “takes tremendous pride in helping students figure their post-high school life out and loves the satisfaction that comes with it.” 

In the end, Ms. Heald acknowledges that “your counselor and teachers,” can help make the process easier, she is “an excellent resource for everyone in the school.” Many seniors had applications due on Oct. 15 and are busy preparing applications for the Nov. 1 deadline. She encourages students to “use her as a resource as much as they can.”