AITA for bringing up a report against my guidance counselor and getting her taken out of the running for an award + potentially hurting her career?
Imagine a middle school hallway, buzzing with chatter, where a chronically ill student steps back into school after months of absence, only to face a chilling threat from the one person meant to guide them. For this Redditor, a single encounter with their guidance counselor—marked by harsh words about truancy and family separation—left a scar that lingered into high school. Years later, a casual mention of that incident in a college application meeting upended the counselor’s chance at a “most loved staff” award and sparked a deeper investigation.
Now, with family calling the teen’s actions “uncalled for” and guilt creeping in, the Redditor wonders if speaking up was a step too far. Readers feel the weight of this dilemma—balancing justice for past wrongs against the risk of derailing someone’s career. Was the teen wrong to revisit old wounds, or did their truth shine a necessary light?
‘AITA for bringing up a report against my guidance counselor and getting her taken out of the running for an award + potentially hurting her career?’
A guidance counselor’s role is to support, not intimidate, yet this teen’s experience reveals a troubling abuse of power. The counselor’s threat to a chronically ill student—warning of truancy charges and family separation—was not just unprofessional but deeply harmful. The Redditor’s decision to share this years later, prompted by the counselor’s award nomination, wasn’t vindictive but a natural response to unresolved injustice. The multiple complaints now surfacing suggest a pattern, not a one-off “bad day.”
This case reflects broader issues in school systems, where 1 in 5 students with disabilities report inadequate support, per a 2023 U.S. Department of Education report. Dr. Amy McCart, a school psychology expert, notes, “Educators must prioritize empathy, especially for students with medical challenges; failing to do so undermines trust”. The counselor’s removal of the teen’s 504 plan further highlights her disregard for student needs.
For resolution, the school should ensure thorough investigations of such complaints and provide training on supporting students with disabilities. The teen could seek closure by discussing the impact with a trusted adult or counselor.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
The Reddit crew came out swinging with support and sass—here’s what they had to say about this counselor conundrum:
![[Reddit User] − NTA - you told the truth, you have nothing to feel bad about. The old counsellor should feel bad, as she’s the AH for being so rude to a child who was transitioning back into school from a long period of illness. Counsellors are supposed to be empathetic, and she wasn’t. She was very unprofessional.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/243532add-10.png)
These Reddit takes are full of fire, but do they capture the full weight of this teen’s tough call?
This story of a teen speaking truth to power shows how past wrongs can ripple into the present, demanding accountability. The Redditor’s honesty didn’t just cost a counselor an award—it exposed a pattern that needed addressing. Schools should be safe havens, not battlegrounds, and one student’s voice can spark change. Have you ever had to call out someone in authority for their actions? Drop your experiences below—how would you balance guilt and justice in this situation?
