by CHRIS BARRY

Name: John Szuber

Age: 58

Occupation: High school guidance counsellor

Bio: This caring, conscientious West Island resident has been offering career advice and helping out troubled teens since 1976. Currently the guy to see at Marymount High School, watch him do his thing live next Tuesday and Wednesday when he will be chairing the English Montreal School Board’s third annual Career Fair at St. Pius X Comprehensive High School, an event surely no self-respecting teenager will want to miss.

Does he feel there is generally too much pressure on kids to grow up fast these days? Yes.

Two popular fields all the kids want to get in to: Science and commerce.

Does gender still play a role in what kids want to do with their lives career-wise? Not any more.

Does he ever point to the school janitor and tell underachievers that this is what they can look forward to if they don’t soon start hitting the books? No.

Something he might recommend to a functionally illiterate kid: Vocational school. “There are lots of rewarding programs that don’t require much reading or writing—like maybe the professional cooking program, or the restaurant services program where you are trained to become a waiter. There are things available for students who don’t have great literary skills.”

What he will do if a kid with an IQ of 75 tells him that he wants to grow up to become a spaceman: Support him. “It’s not my place to discourage people in their goals. I can’t play god.”

Something a student can be assured of when they go to see him: Full confidentiality—as long as they are over 14. “Although the responsibility of the school is to get the parents involved in helping their children.”

What happens if a kid lets it slip that the reason they’re having trouble concentrating in school is because they’re forever sore from being bum-raped by their step-dad? “Then we have to consider the Youth Protection Act. If a child is at risk we have no alternative but to report it.”

The most common thing kids are fucked up about: Their divorced or separated parents.

Best part of the job: All of the exposure to teenagers. “They really do make you feel younger, it’s a big plus.”

Another part of the job he really likes: Giving a deserving kid a pat on the back. “They don’t all get enough of them.”

Worst part of the job: Seeing how much emotional baggage so many children carry around with them. “It gets heavier every year. Boy, a lot of these kids are really hurting.”

Childhood ambition: To become a banker.

Favourite alcoholic beverage: Heineken draft beer.

Last book read: Shock, by Robin Cook.

Musical tastes: Joni Mitchell, Pigeonhole.

A film he saw recently and dug: The Shawshank Redemption.

Favourite film of all time: The Great Escape.

Television preferences: Discovery Channel, A&E, TLC.

Words of wisdom: “Be positive and caring. Try to find something nice to say about everyone because everyone has something nice in them.” :

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca