Mrs. Foley the new CKHS Counselor and her values
Foley’s transcendent relationship power and other details
West, Foley, and children enjoying the outdoors.
Starting her first year as a counselor at Central Kitsap High School (CKHS), Miriam Foley has had a long road taking her there, one that is packed with fulfilling relationships and fulfilling her goals by accounts from Foley and close friends. Foley has maintained her goal of becoming a school counselor through it all, she said, the goal beginning with some interactions with her school counselor in the fall of 8th grade where she decided that she would love to be a mentor and a really good counselor.
“A lot of life happened in between but that has always been a goal,” said Foley.
Foley was married in 2004 to her husband and they began their family while Foley worked on her Bachelors at Western Washington University. However, Foley claims that having a family prepared her for being in school because it trained her to work past tired.
“I thrive off a full schedule, if I have all the time in the world, I’ll procrastinate really bad,” Foley said.
Her days were full indeed, with a schedule of getting the family ready for the day, going to school for herself and then fulfilling her internship responsibilities and online classes and homework late at night, she said.
Foley’s conversation reflected a great deal of value for her relationships she developed within these years. Her parents played an integral part in helping her through these busy times by often taking the kids for a Saturday. These almost weekly days with their grandparents continue to be happy memories for Foley’s two kids, she said. Foley enjoys spending time with her family on long road trips to sentimental cabins and national parks and is empowered by jujitsu, a family activity for the Foleys.
Foley ministered to Raquel West, a youth in her youth church program during West’s middle and early high school years but has known Foley for most of her life and continues to have a strong relationship. West praises Foley highly and considers herself very privileged to know her and be counseled by her.
“Through her mentorship and advice I learned that skill,” West said. Other praise from West includes that Foley “genuinely cares about everyone she comes in contact with.”
Besides the lasting effect Foley has made on West’s life, West recognizes the expanding growth and goals of her previous mentor, Foley.
West said, “I am proud of her becoming a school counselor because it is something she has been working towards a long time.”
This idea prevailed within the conversation with Foley, she decisively described her life journey as leading her here, and to other counseling positions.
Heather Wood came into acquaintance with Foley one afternoon grabbing a Coffee where Foley worked, a coffee barista on Bainbridge Island. Wood recounted that she “immediately felt comfortable and safe” in her presence.
From there, the relationship kicked off and carpools became frequent and concerning their relationship, Wood said, “[Miriam] became someone I could not live without.”
According to West, Foley’s relationships reflect her strong impact on the people around her, and the depth of her care towards other people.
Foley’s words also reflected that people have a meaningful impact on her. Foley recalled that last year, the death of her dad impacted her a great deal and added meaning to her work beyond the passion she has sustained this long.
“I feel like students keep me young, feeling younger and thinking differently,” said Foley. There were no doubts in the minds of either of Foley’s friends that Foley was in touch with others in a somewhat transcendent way.
