By Clare Beezhold
News Editor
In her seventh year as a Mira Costa guidance counselor, Eliza Santarosa is transferring to the College and Career Center as the newest counselor of the center.
Santarosa previously worked as a school counselor at Palos Verdes High School. For the past six years at Costa, Santarosa has served as a school counselor in the Guidance Department, the department chair for the past three years and a coach for the Mira Costa girls swim team for three years.
“Over the past six years here, I have enjoyed a variety of roles, and I am excited about my new position in the College and Career Center,” Santarosa said. “I’m hoping to bring a different perspective to the team this year.”
Shalyn Tharayil, one of Costa’s College and Career Center counselors, has taken a leave of absence, spending this academic year in Hong Kong learning about international schools. Santarosa is temporarily filling her position while she is away.
“I have really enjoyed my experience as a counselor at Mira Costa. The students are driven, compassionate, energized and bright,” Santarosa said. “This felt like a perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge as a counselor and help students in a different capacity.”
Tharayil is spending the 2019-20 school year at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong as a guidance counselor for grades 10-12. Santarosa’s transfer was a team decision with the College and Career Center, counselors and administrators. Santarosa’s colleagues encouraged the swap for her growth as a counselor, according to Santarosa.
“Transitioning from an academic counselor to a college and career counselor, I believe that I have insight to share with both teams,” Santarosa said. “I am very excited about my new position in the College and Career Center.”
According to Tharayil, this is a one to two-year position, and she hopes to return to Mira Costa bringing a new understanding of international colleges to the CCC to help and service more students. Tharayil noticed that each year a growing small percentage of Costa students was interested in applying to colleges abroad. Working at an international high school is a way to learn by doing, according to Tharayil.
“It has only been two months and I have already learned so much,” Tharayil said. “Starting over in a new country isn’t always easy, and it presents many opportunities for problem solving and creative thinking.”
Filling the counseling gap left by Santarosa is Sina Evans. There are no current plans for Santarosa’s future in the Couseling Department with the return of Tharayil, according to Dale.
“What intrigued me about [Ms. Tharayil’s] request to go to Hong Kong was that she would get some understanding of international schools and how they operate, their structure, and how they run classes to advise students for the future,” Dale said.
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