VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — While heading down the hallways of Landstown High School to meet counselor Jennifer Cholick, senior Jordann Albao describes their relationship.
"She doesn't only act as like a counselor to me, she also acts as kind of like a bigger sister," said Albao.
In addition to her "big sister" duties as a counselor, Cholick sponsors the school's Anchored4Life program.
"This program is needed because I think that military students, when they're transitioning in and out of new schools, many times they're kind of forgotten. They're just assumed like, you're just going to be able to pick up where you left off. But it's not that easy for them and even though military children are very resilient and they're used to adjusting, they still need that extra help," said Cholick.
For Cholick, who was in the military herself, those issues hit close to home.
"And so, I think that's why my heart is in it, because I've been there. I've been in the military. I've been deployed, I married military, my kids are military, so I feel really connected to the students," said Cholick.
One of the students Cholick has worked with is military-dependent Katalina Cuevas, the senior who has moved multiple times.
"Oh, I'm gonna say [I've moved] 10 or 11 times. Oh, it's hectic a lot," said Cuevas.
Cuevas is thankful for the program and is now the student president of the group. This week, the group is helping with putting decorations on display and raising awareness about April being the month of the military child.
The group also holds regular gatherings, called Real Talk meetings in the school library. The meetings help military-connected students deal with transition issues they may be experiencing.
"We try to talk to new people and try to show them, like what types of clubs there are, sports they can do and try to find out what they're interested in and try to gear them toward those clubs and activities, so they have a place here," said Cuevas.
Cholick says it helps the school's 600 military-connected students fit in.
"...Our students are here to welcome them, make them feel as acclimated to the school as possible and that's basically their whole world," said Cholick.
For these reasons, News 3 presented her with an Everyday Hero award, along with a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner Southern Bank.
