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Abstract
There is a lack of information to allow researchers to fully understand the experience students from lower-income families have regarding college and career readiness received through interactions with their school counselors. College and career readiness education is implemented by school counselors for students participating in K–12 education. This study explored the experiences of young adults ages 18–25 who participated in the federal lunch assistance program while they were enrolled in high school. As qualifiers for that program, the participants were people who, as high school students, lived below the poverty line and who experienced neighborhood disadvantage. The experiences of these students were explored in this research. A generic qualitative approach was used and 13 respondents who graduated from the same school district and who were part of the lunch assistance program participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to share their experiences and interactions with their school counselors in the area of college and career readiness and preparation. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that participants yearned for, but did not have, a relationship or a connection with their school counselor and they wanted to know that someone in the building cared about them. The participants that had a more positive relationship with their school counselors also had a strong connection with community outreach programs that were focused on giving guidance on post high school options. All of the participants acknowledged that they wanted more time and attention with their school counselors and their perception was that kids who were more affluent and who did not experience neighborhood disadvantage received more time, attention, and help in the areas of college and career readiness. The purpose of the study was to determine how young adults from lower income families viewed their experiences with their school counselors on the topic of college and career readiness.
