A shoulder to lean on, a heart to console in, and a personality to trust are all the values you can find in the counseling office at C. M. Russell High School. Having dedicated the last 20 years to her passion and love for children, one of the school’s counselors prepares to say salutations towards retirement.
The beginning of Brenda Lowry’s career adventure started at the doors of the University of Montana Journalism department. Not only did she have natural skills for the area, but it was something she truly loved to do. However, after a year majoring at the J-school, she discovered a new interest. Lowry had become involved at the ASUM Children’s Learning Center and grew her love for not only kids but also teaching. This led her to switch her major to education and counseling.
“The switch was sort of a split in half for my interests – – it was perfect,” she said.
Lowry earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and eventually her master’s in counseling. She moved back to her hometown of Great Falls, got married, and gained experience in various schools beginning with Valley View Elementary. After about 16 years of teaching, she applied to CMR High School as counselor. And ever since then she has been proud to be able to call herself a person kids can turn to if they are in need of support.
“It’s kind of a form of craft when working with people,” Lowry said.
She said she sees herself as the person in between the person who provides a pause from all the chaos of school, family, and social lives. Dealing with about 200 caseloads per semester. Being approachable, having empathy, and maintaining an open mind to understand just about any situation is crucial to being a successful counselor, she said. As much as she said she will miss the successes of helping students towards a brighter future, she also will miss the struggles of working her hardest to relate to students with such a large age gap. Lowry said she would miss it all, but she is excited to begin the new chapter of her life.
“I’d love to just take my husband Gary’s convertible down the Pacific Coast Highway,” she said.
With all the busyness of managing a career, there has been little to no time for Lowry to really take a step back and breathe, she said. There are countless home projects she wants to begin, places she wants to travel, and commitments she wants to make. Her oldest daughter Kelsey has recently been blessed with a baby, and her youngest daughter is expecting as well. One of Lowry’s biggest goals, as of now, is focused on holding a significant role in her grandchildren’s lives as much as she has held a role with her students. Hoping she has left behind only impacts of positivity to those students, Lowry said she is ready to finish the rest of her own story.
“I hope I’ve helped them get to their next step in life- – or at least had a small part in it.”
