As this semester comes to an end, and graduation is around the corner. I should be celebrating the wonderful time I had attending HCC. Instead I found myself in a pickle, deep disappointment, and frustration. Not because life is lifing or I’m scared of what next. My disappointment lies with inadequate but critical student service: counseling.

For months, I’ve reached out to HCC counseling department, looking to set up an interview for the Egalitarian. I have sent emails, submitted request, and even attempted making cold calls directly to Teams profile. I wish I could say that I only tried one campus, but I reached out to counselors at multiple different campuses. The first time I pitched this idea was back in February and let’s just say I have not received a single reply since I started reaching out. Take the time to think about how I’m a student that goes to HCC and how I could have easily been in a crisis. That mission statement for HCC is “to provide holistic support for students pursuing their educational goals. In order to accomplish this mission, HCC will provide a full range of professional services, including personal and mental health counseling, substance use counseling, ADA, Title IX accommodations, academic skills enhancement, Basic Needs, outreach programming, consultation, and crisis intervention.

Yet I did not feel supported all semester. I reached out and reached out to multiple different people and the support just wasn’t there. Let’s be clear. I’m a paying student at this college, in counseling is a service that HCC advertises. A service is only as valuable as it is accessible. With my experience, I’m not sure counseling accessible for the students that it is promoting too.

This lack of a response did also have real consequences for me. I’ve tried to write this article three times and haven’t got any replies costing me to change my article twice. Even missed a due date trying to solidify an interview with a counselor. The fact that I’ve been trying to write an article about the services HCC has for students, ended with me being neglected by the same services is ironic.This article is not about one student fallen through the cracks. It’s really a warning sign to a systemic issue. I can only imagine if it’s been this hard for me to get in contact with any counselor. I imagine it’s been just hard for my fellow classmates. The services being presented has a responsibility to show up for the students that they’re supposed to be serving. Student shouldn’t have to beg for guidance or help we’re not asking for favors or asking for what you promise.

This is a call for accountability. The counseling department needs to be reevaluated in an effort to communicate better with its students. There should be no student that can’t get in touch with a counselor!