Written, photographed and designed by Melinda Tafolla Martinez, THS Media Team Editor
There are always new and interesting challenges coming Mrs. Craton's way. It is always fun and exciting for her to witness the growth and maturity of every student throughout the years.
Mrs. Craton’s motivation to become a counselor stemmed from her experience with her own high school counselor. Her counselor always doubted her, telling her she would never do well in college. Determined to change that narrative for future students, she aspired to help everyone believe in their potential and understand that there are always opportunities for success in college. Mrs. Craton shared, “I met with my counselor once, and he said, ‘You have no option to go to college,’ and I had a 3.8 GPA. I felt like I was a good student with a good work ethic, and it was really defeating to me. But then I applied to eight different schools, and I got into them. … I never want anyone to feel like they can’t go to college. I want to give them hope and options and just be a little more optimistic and inspiring for them.”
Mrs. Craton’s favorite part of working as a counselor at THS is the team and the supportive environment she works in. She also loves witnessing the growth of the students she meets with. She stated, “I really like the team that I work with. I feel like we have a super supportive team. I really like working with the students and following you guys throughout high school. I used to be just the freshman counselor, but for the past few years, I’ve counseled grades 9–12. I love following students throughout their educational journey and helping them apply to colleges.”
Mrs. Craton’s motivation and courage have helped countless students, and she continues to inspire and support even more. She has changed the way things were in the past and set a better example for future generations. She is always there for students whenever they need guidance or simply someone to talk to.