MASON — Wahama High School Guidance Counselor Sherry Williamson enjoys her job so much that she has chosen to work after hours with no financial compensation.

Williamson, who serves as the counselor for students in grades 10-12, will be offering after hours service to students and members of the community. During this time, Williamson said that she will help people with college applications, the financial aid process and offer guidance to those who are thinking about going back to school.

After hours began on Monday and will continue the rest of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Although Williamson is doing the after hours counseling on her personal time, she said that she looks forward to helping those in the community.

“If we are going to be a strong community, we have to be an educated community. If I don’t know the answer, I will find someone that does,” she said.

Williamson, who is a WHS graduate and has worked at the school for 10 years, described her job as a “dream come true.”

“I have known since I was 15 that I wanted to do this. This is the job of my dreams because I’m in my school,” she said, adding that she attended school with many of her current students’ parents.

Prior to working at WHS, Williamson worked for Commack in Huntington, Prestera and Action Youth Care, which is now known as KVC.

“I went back to school to get my masters for the job I’ve always wanted to do,” Williamson said. “(WHS) is a community oriented school — everyone knows everyone.”

As for her regular tasks as school counselor, Williamson’s responsibilities include helping students with scheduling, sending seniors’ transcripts to colleges, and, of course, working with the students. Williamson described her job as being interesting simply because she gets to work with 430 teenagers on a daily basis.

“Everyday is different. They are all my kids,” she said, adding that she has an open door policy during the school day.

In addition, Williamson said that she gives students business cards with both her cell phone number and e-mail address in order for them to be able to contact her outside of school hours if the need arises. According to Williamson, receiving texts from students at all hours of the night is not out of the ordinary.

“(The students) know that there is someone there and that it’s not an issue,” she said. “The hardest part of this job is not being able to help the kids that drop out because I can’t push them to make them understand that they are so much more.”

And the students, whom Williamson considers her family, are very important to her. In fact, she described watching her students grow up as being one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job.

“My favorite part is watching (the students) walk in as seventh graders and seeing them leave at 18-years old — you are literally watching these kids grow up,” she said.

Serving as the WHS counselor for 10 years also has provided Williamson with several lasting memories, such as the annual parent reception and graduation ceremonies. She also fondly remembers the day that the falcon statue was erected in front of the school.

Just as she advises her students, Williamson encouraged others to live a life without regret.

“Everything you do is a choice — it is all about learning and you will never fail if you learned something,” she said. “Everyone is 100 times better than what they think they are.”

This is certainly one piece of advice that Williamson has applied to her own life as she continues to work her dream job as well as influence and shape the lives of the many students that pass through her office doors each day.

(If you know someone who could be a potential candidate for an upcoming “Day in the Life” feature, e-mail his or her name and contact information to mdrnews@mydailyregister.com or call 304-675-1333.)