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It's often said that the best counselors are those who have overcome adversity themselves. That theory will likely ring true one day for Julia Kalinowsky, a 23-year-old Pittsfield native who recently graduated from ½ûÂþÌìÌà with an associate degree in Human Services. She is the winner of the Berkshire County School Counselors Association Scholarship, awarded to a graduating ½ûÂþÌìÌà student who is transferring to a bachelor's program to pursue a career in human services, counseling or education. The recipient must also be in good academic standing and have a demonstrated passion for community outreach.

"I had no idea it was coming," Julia says of the honor. "I got invited to a ceremony at Balderdash, which I thought was going to be for a lot of people getting scholarships, but they said, 'No this is all for you,' she recalls. "I was overwhelmed. It really means a lot."

Mother to then-infant daughter Amariana, Julia enrolled at ½ûÂþÌìÌà in 2018. Four years later, with degree in hand, she has enrolled at Simmons University with plans to earn a bachelor's degree. She is also seven months pregnant with her second daughter.

"It has sometimes felt like a long road," she says. "When I was in high school, I was involved in a violent domestic situation. I got close to the school counselor through that." Unsure of what she wanted to do with her life, Julia found comfort in the friendship and advice she received from the counselor.

"When I got pregnant with my daughter at age 19, I met the counselor for a cup of coffee. She said my personality and life experience would be a good match with human services," Julia recalls. That conversation spurred Julia to do field work at a middle school alongside the adjustment counselor, and her path slowly became clearer.

"I didn't really know exactly what I wanted to do when I started at ½ûÂþÌìÌà — I just knew I wanted to be in human services. I didn't know what population I wanted to work with," she says. Now, with real-world experience under her belt, Julia realizes she likes working with the middle school age range in particular. She worked for a time at Bridging the Gap, a Salvation Army program providing safe alternatives to violent and risky behavior for youth ages 12 to 17. "It was a good fit for me," she says. "I like working with an at-risk population with mental health or behavioral problems."

The work can come with a price, however. "When I started, I couldn't stop thinking about these kids. Some had suicidal ideations, some were suffering abuse in the home," Julia remembers. "It's very heavy, but with practice, I've gotten better at not letting it come home with me."

The pieces seem to be falling in place for Julia, who recently bought a home in Pittsfield with her partner. "Right now I'm preparing for a baby in our new house, and I start at Sim