In the few months she’s been here, freshmen counselor Laura Castop has already provided a positive environment for students.

Castrop came from a diverse background. Growing up, she wanted to be a firefighter, and ended up getting her bachelor’s degree in law enforcement. Later, she worked for six years in an emergency room, trying to get her EMT for arson investigations.

After the birth of her son and seeing a counselor, Castrop said she had finally realized her calling.

“After my second session, I just knew this is what I wanted to do,” Castrop said. “I wanted to be a counselor. I wanted to help people.”

After being Methodist her entire life, Castrop converted to Catholicism when she was married. She has been a member of Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon for over 20 years.

After hearing the school had an opening for a counselor Castrop knew she was supposed to end up here. “McGuinness just feels like a family,” Castrop said.

Castrop said her favorite part of her job is helping students in any way she can. She wants to share all the knowledge she has gained over the years.

She advises students to spread kindness because they never know what someone else is going through.

“We all have meanness in us, but we have goodness, and it is the goodness that we want to share,” Castrop said.