Jessica Morris

Name:

Jessica Morris (née Collins)

MSU Degree:

BA in English, 2017

Any other degrees:

MS in Counseling, Harding University, 2023

Favorite memories of being an undergraduate English major:

So many! I have fond memories of taking Dr. Marsh’s Contemporary Lit and Dr. Herd’s Linguistics classes. However, one memory that sticks out took place in Dr. Mallory-Kani’s Critical Writing/Research course. I was trying to argue that Wuthering Heights’ Catherine should be viewed in a feminist lens, because she uses her ‘hysteria’ to drive her agenda. I was having a really hard time putting my argument into words and I lamented to Dr. MK, who responded, “that means it’s a great, complex argument!” She taught me to not be intimidated by a challenge, and to be open to looking at things in new ways, even if they feel unusual at first.

Current Position:

School Counselor

Organization:

Christian Brothers High School, Memphis, TN

When you graduated with a degree in English from MSU, what were your plans for your future? Has your career path mostly realized those early plans, or have you discovered new plans and goals along the way?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I graduated from MSU. I had lots of ideas, but nothing concrete. At the time, that uncertainty gave me anxiety, but I now know that it’s pretty normal, and that there really is plenty of time to figure things out! I didn’t go to graduate school until I was 26, and I don’t regret it at all. Those four years in between undergrad and grad school gave me time to really experience the outside world and decide on what career would be the best fit for me.

After graduating from MSU, I got married and moved to Memphis for my husband’s job. I began working in a college admissions office processing dual enrollment applications. Through that role, I had the opportunity to work with high school students and school counselors. This experience helped me realize how much I enjoy working with high schoolers and provided me with the connections and resources to pursue that career path.

What is your current occupation, and what does your work mostly consist of?

I am a school counselor at a private, Catholic, high school in Memphis. My work is split between two main roles: guidance and college admissions planning.

In my guidance role, I meet with students individually to discuss their academic and personal goals, as well as any issues that may be creating obstacles in their lives. These issues can range from spending too much time playing video games to experiencing abuse at home—situations that require intervention.

In my college admissions role, I meet with juniors and seniors to discuss their plans, edit their essays, construct resumes, write letters of recommendation, and provide guidance throughout the process.

Which skills that you learned as an English major do you use most in your job?

I write constantly in my job, and I’ve come to realize that strong writing is an invaluable skill–and not one that everyone learns in college. I write letters of recommendation for most of my seniors, and proofread their essays. I’ve actually started having students from other schools contact me to ask me to proofread their essays, and it’s become a side gig of mine. My advanced communication skills also led to the creation of a third role: I now serve as our office’s communications coordinator. I write a monthly newsletter for students and parents, compose email blasts, and manage our department’s social media presence.

What additional skills did you need to learn in order to do your job, and how did you learn them?

“Data” is a big buzzword right now, but there is good reason for it. Data analysis is a crucial skill in education. As school counselors, my team and I analyze attendance trends, ACT score averages, and even average acceptance rates for our students at certain colleges and programs. I never thought I’d use data as a counselor, and learning these skills involved a lot of trial and error for me. I had no background in statistics to help me. I would encourage current students not to be intimidated by data, and to consider taking courses in statistics or data analysis while pursuing their English degree.

Are there common misconceptions about your career field, which current English majors might share, that you have learned the truth about?

School counselors often get a bad rap, and I can understand why. We’ve all seen the movies where the guidance counselor tells a student they’ll never get into a certain college or that they should give up on their dreams.

When I meet new people, I often ask if they remember their high school counselor–most don’t. However, most school counselors have overwhelming caseloads. I never knew my school counselor, but we had two counselors in a high school of over 1,000 students. In Mississippi, the average ratio is 435 students per counselor. It’s impossible to help that many students on a personal level, especially in a one-on-one setting.

School counselors provide incredibly important resources and there is research that proves that students who have a good school counselor relationship achieve greater academic success, but there simply aren’t enough of us. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) advocates for school counselors on a national level, and there are ways to get involved for those interested in political advocacy.

In what ways does your career enrich your life and help you to achieve your personal as well as your professional goals?

Before I became a school counselor, I yearned for a job that gave me a sense of purpose and made me feel like I was doing good in the world. This job has fulfilled that desire and more. I find immense satisfaction and fulfillment in watching my students grow and reach their goals. I’ve walked with many students through pain, anxiety, and uncertainty. I’ve also witnessed their best, most joyful moments. The best feeling is when former students come back to visit and want to share life updates. It's an incredible honor to be a witness to their lives.

What advice do you have for undergraduate English majors right now who might want to follow the career path you did?

For students interested in becoming school counselors who don’t want to start out as teachers, I recommend starting out in college admissions. I know several counselors who began as university recruiters before transitioning into high school counseling. Working in university admissions gives some insight into the admissions process and allows you to build relationships with high schools. Many universities also offer tuition remission for employees, which can make it possible to earn a master’s degree at little to no cost.

To become a school counselor, most states require a master’s degree in counseling and a passing score on the Praxis exam. Some schools also employ dedicated college counselors who advise solely on college admissions; this role typically does not require a counseling degree. Again, experience in college admissions is especially beneficial for those pursuing a college counseling role.

[Updated May 2025]