While Liana Wong was an undergraduate at the University of California-Davis she was majoring in Human Development and Psychology with a minor in Education. Liana always pictured herself as a classroom teacher in an elementary school. She is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently finishing her master's degree at Teachers College in psychological counseling with a specialization in school guidance.

Liana became interested in counseling during her senior year in college, when she served as a peer advisor. Her experience of helping other students with their academic programs was, "more than just academic. A lot of times it was personal counseling; relationships, friendships." She enjoyed being able to counsel students on their academic as well as personal lives, and loved the individual interaction with different people. One of the greatest satisfactions Liana gained from being a peer counselor was seeing the "oh, wow!" look on a student's face when she was able to help them. It was Liana's experience as a peer advisor that caused a shift in her interest from teaching to counseling.

Liana's primary academic interests are the multi-culturalism and cross-cultural perspectives of counseling. Her instructors at Teachers College have guided her to be more open-minded when dealing with students from different cultures.

As a guidance counselor intern in New York City public schools, Liana has encountered students from a wide diversity of backgrounds. Her courses at Teachers College have established a strong foundation for her work as a counselor, but she has found working with students to be the greatest learning experience."As a counselor you're constantly learning…No one's going to be the perfect counselor or teacher, everyone makes mistakes….It's more about looking at the situation and the individual student."

Liana was attracted to the academic reputation and faculty attracted of Teachers College. Having spent all her life in California, she was also excited to come to the East Coast and see a different part of the country. Since coming to Teachers College, Liana has fallen in love with New York. Although she still considers herself a Californian, she has created new friendships and professional connections here in New York.

After graduation Wong sees herself working as a guidance counselor or college advisor in a middle or high school.

Published Thursday, Apr. 10, 2003