FCHS school counselor Morgan Duncan’s path to helping students navigate their academic journey isn’t a simple one. Her journey started with being with a multi-billion-dollar company known for its phrase “It’s a small world” and has resulted in her working in a small, rural area with a public school of 1,400 students.

Duncan’s fascination with psychology began with learning in the classroom, as she enjoyed AP Psychology. However, Duncan notes that “Ironically, it wasn’t until after working at Walt Disney World on the Disney College Program that I decided I wanted to work with teens and adolescents.” Her exposure to the inner workings of child psychology and the realization of how deeply her own counselor was involved in her success led her to want to do the same for others.

Duncan went on to explore this career path further while attending graduate school at the College of William & Mary. There, Duncan had rich opportunities to work in schools at each level, but noted, “My time in Williamsburg-James County is when I worked in a high school, and it really solidified my intention to be a high school counselor.” Afterwards, she resided in Farmville, Virginia, for six years, where she felt a calling to return to Central Virginia.

“I always knew I wanted to get back to Central Virginia, so when the time was right, I applied to be a Fluco,“ said Duncan.

During her time at Fluvanna, Duncan has been a key factor in many students’ success. One of her many contributions is her monthly “Scholarship Roundup,” a newsletter that lists current scholarships at the local, state, and national levels. This contribution reflects her favorite part of being a school counselor: preparing students for college.

“Watching a student grow and decide what path they want to take after they graduate as they go through high school is such an awesome thing, and because school counselors are with their students for the entire time they’re in high school, it’s wonderful to see the journey that students take from 8th or 9th grade through graduation,” said Duncan.

Aside from helping students in achieving their goals, Duncan partakes in many activities outside of school to maintain a healthy work/life balance. “I love to bake, read, and travel. I also enjoy music and love going to concerts,” she said.

For students who are feeling unmotivated as the school year is winding down, Duncan reminds students that “it’s okay to have a down day, but don’t let that take control of your life. Think about what you aspire to be, and how you are going to get there. A quote that sticks with me is from Disney’s ‘The Haunted Mansion’: ‘You try, you fail. You try, you fail. But the only true failure is when you stop trying.’”

If students are in need of assistance, Duncan notes that the best way to contact her is by email at [email protected].