The 2019 school year has just begun at Bear River High School, and with it, we welcome changes to our staff, including our newest addition Counselor Mary Buhr.

Mrs. Buhr, native of Missouri, has been an educator for eleven years at schools including Notre Dame High School in St. Louis as a comprehensive counselor for nine years. She has also worked as a college and career counselor at Lafayette High School for two years, before relocating to California. Mrs. Buhr commented on how Bear River’s community differs from previous campuses she worked in.

“The students and staff are so friendly and helpful and forgiving of all my mistakes,” she said. “I’m learning a lot here.”

Junior Ashley Ray spoke about what she was looking for in a counselor.

“They have to be helpful to our future and have to actually do something,” she said. “They also have to be nice.”

Mrs. Buhr talked about how her favorite age group to work with are teenagers.

“…A lot of my friends say ‘How can you work with that age group?’ and I love this age group,” she said. “Whereas other people who work with the little ones, they make me nervous. I can’t work with that age group, I’m more comfortable around this age group.”

Freshman Benjamin Swindell shared some advice for our new counselor.

“I feel like she works a little too hard,” he said. “I think maybe she should relax a little, not work herself so hard.”

Mrs. Buhr explained what she likes to do outside the school environment during her free time.

“I love to read, so I read a lot, and I love to read fiction books…” she said. “On sunny days I would love to be in a pool, floating on a floater, and just relaxing.”

Many students had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Buhr at some point. When describing her, Sophomore Araya Reed described how nice she was. 

“I see her as that person you could meet on the street and if you dropped your wallet, she would give it back to you without a second thought,” she said, “… I want her to be here for the rest of my time here.”

Mrs. Buhr described her first day as a counseling intern.

“On my first day as a counseling intern, a student arrived for the first day directly from staying out all night at a nightclub,” she said. “She arrived in the parking lot in her ‘clubbing’ clothes and a bottle of wine dropped from her car as she opened the door. Needless to say parents were called and ultimately she got help. But I spent the day wondering, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’”

Mrs. Buhr also commented on her favorite book and movie.

“My favorite movie is Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back, I have to say that because that was the movie I watched on my first date with my husband,” she said, “ My favorite book has to be The Shack by William P. Young.”