Assisting students is a main part of being a counselor. Ali Levato, new school counselor, is excited and ready to work with the students here at LZ.

Q: Why did you decide to come to LZ?

A: I’ve always been really impressed by Lake Zurich. And something that I felt on the day of even my first interview is that it’s definitely a family-oriented, community-oriented place to work. And that’s something I really felt or know from outside of school, I feel like you can really feel that when you’re here at Lake Zurich. Specifically, one of the ways I see and feel this “family-like” culture is in my department (the student services department). I am lucky enough to work with people that make you feel like you belong and make you feel valued as an educator and as a person. 

Q: Why did you choose to become a counselor originally?

A: I wanted to communicate with kids and work with kids about their futures. And I wanted to showcase that there’s not always one path to being successful in life and that you can capitalize on your own strengths to be as capable to get whatever it is that you want out of life.

Q: How has the start of your new job been?

A: It’s been really, really great. Everyone’s so welcoming here. The kids are awesome and the families are great. Everyone’s really gone out of their way to help me so it’s been a really good start to the year.  It is all the little things people have done for me that has made the biggest difference- when I look lost asking what they can do to help me, stopping me in the hall to ask how everything is going, or introducing themselves to me at a staff meeting.

Q: What is your impression of LZ?

A: It is such a welcoming place to be a new staff member and I love the true “community” feel. Students, families, and staff have been nothing but welcoming and have gone out of their way to help me feel comfortable and part of the LZHS family!

Q: What do you hope to contribute to the school?

A: I hope I can add to the already strong foundation and culture here at LZHS. As a counselor, I want to help kids achieve their goals, maximize their potential, and teach them there is not only one path to success.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a counselor?

A: My favorite thing about being a counselor is I get to work with all different types of students. So I get to work with students who are thinking about maybe going to Harvard someday then I also get to work with students who just need a lot of guidance and what they want to do with their future. I love working with both of them and every student that falls in between there.