As one of the larger high schools in the state, it’s very easy to get lost at Arcadia High School (AHS), whether it be academically, socially, or physically. Luckily, for me, as I transitioned from a timid eighth grader up until now, I’ve had an amazing guiding figure to help me through everything–Ms. Oku. 

Most people may know her as “the class counselor”, but she’s so much more than just one of the counselors for the class of 2024. Ms. Oku is one of the most supportive people I have ever met, as she’s always there to assist students as they adapt to school. She’s compassionate, thoughtful, and fun-loving, and her wealth of knowledge and experiences makes her such a fun person to talk to and to come to for advice. 

I’ve known Ms. Oku since my freshman year of high school, and since then, she has been nothing but amazing to me. Even though I started my first high school class in my room in front of my computer, Ms. Oku brought about a sense of comfort and normalcy through her calm demeanor and understanding nature. Just like the thousands of students who have come before me, I started high school with a flood of questions. I was curious about everything from how the teachers were to what classes I should take. I had questions like how to acquire my transcript, what would happen if I couldn’t take Chinese, and when I could take my swim test. These were all questions that Ms. Oku was open to, and so kindly guided me with her support. 

Fast forward to my sophomore year of high school, things were easing back to in-person again, and I took my first trip to Ms. Oku’s counselor office. At first glance, I was taken aback. Her room was decorated with such cute family photos, fairy lights, garlands of borders, and motivational quotes. A gaze at her room and table decor was enough to confirm how optimistic and warmhearted she was. Since then, I’ve gotten to know Ms. Oku’s room very well, and every time I enter I smile because her room is just as comforting as her personality. 

Whenever I talk to Ms. Oku, I can feel how thoughtful she is, especially when she talks about how she was doing and her own college experiences. Whether it be pointing me in the right direction for which classes to take, or showing me parts of websites that I didn’t even know existed, Ms. Oku is such a compassionate, hardworking, and thoughtful counselor. Over the past years, she has approached every situation giving her utmost support and guidance. Her dedication to lending a helping hand whenever possible is so admirable, especially because she works with over 600 students.

Ms. Oku, it is thanks to you that whenever I have a question about anything–school related, extracurricular related, or anything in general–I can talk to you. I can say that my experience getting to know you might be similar in some way to other students, and this Thanksgiving, we want to appreciate you. Ms. Oku, thank you for being you. I’m grateful for all of the help that you have provided me and previous students!