To Health Academy (HA) students and teachers, Mr. Gene Williams was much more than the guidance counselor for the program. He was the guru of scholarships, classes, and requirements for graduation. He was a role model and a grandfather to HA students on campus. Sadly, Mr. Williams retired from his position and students wondered who would take his place. His top recommendation and replacement, Mrs. Leslie Mulet, is filling his shoes as best as she can.
“I certainly do think I have enormous shoes to fill but I am up to the challenge. Just like everyone else, I loved Mr. Williams and spoke with him on a daily basis. I still hear from him on a regular basis so I will have training from the big guy himself, “she said. Toward the end of last year, Mr. Williams announced that he would be retiring and Ms. Mulet stepped up to the plate, asking administration to keep her in mind as a candidate for the position, and she got the job. The absence of Mr. Williams from the Health Academy program is still upsetting for some students, “I miss Mr. Williams,” says junior Candice Champlin, “He was the best! But, Ms. Mulet tries her best.”
A University of Central Florida alumna, Ms. Mulet received her undergraduate and graduate degrees while interning under Mrs. Robin Thompson at Seminole. She majored in psychology for her undergraduate degree, earning a Bachelors of Arts diploma. She did her masters in counselor education with a focus on school counseling, and obtained her Masters in Art. After completing her internship, with the help of Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Emelda Lovett, she jumped onboard the Seminole High School bandwagon.
Ms. Mulet has shown that she is not only well educated, but also has a lot to contribute to Health Academy itself. “Before I decided on psychology and school counseling, my goal was to work in the health field. So I do have some of the background content and information [that] the HA students learn about.” Mulet has worked with clients and students in different settings: she received a job at the UCF Wellness Center where she worked with students devising physical and mental wellness goals and counseled students on topics such as stress, time management, and keeping healthy during college. This counseling experience makes her the right person to go to for advice. Junior Ashlyn Burgett shared her first experience with Mulet, “She’s very nice! When I got a schedule change, she took good care of me.” In addition, senior Kedisha Dehaney stated that, “Ms. Mulet does anything that she can for her students. She’s very understanding.”
Certainly, Health Academy students, teachers, and parents have welcomed Ms. Mulet with open arms. “Before school even started, many of my students dropped by just to say hi and introduce themselves,” Ms. Mulet said. Her new life as a guidance counselor has been very busy, but Mulet is adapting just fine, “Life as a counselor is definitely fast paced. The counselors are always on the run. I do enjoy it however.” Ms. Mulet does take time to relax, though, from her stressful job and spends loves to spend her weekends on the beach with her friends and family.
No doubt, Mulet is looking forward to a successful first year as the 10th to 12th grade counselor for Health Academy. “This year I hope to become involved with Praesant Manus, the new Health Academy organization on campus,” she shared. Off campus, Mulet occasionally volunteers through the YMCA and works a great deal with UCF’s service projects as well as an annual 5K run to help St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She enjoys her life, career, and helping students. “The best part of being a counselor is getting to work with students,” she said. “I learn as much from them as they do from me and everyday is fulfilling.”