Counseling Graduate Focused on Uplifting Young Students

ATLANTA — Ojo Killikelly’s (M.Ed. ’25) path to school counseling began in retail.

Her experience working in retail management taught her about running day-to-day operations but, more importantly, it gave her the chance to mentor high school and college students who worked for her.

“That experience opened my eyes to how much young people need guidance and encouragement, especially during such formative years,” she said. “I realized I wanted to do more than manage — I wanted to make a lasting impact by supporting students’ academic, social and emotional development in a more intentional and structured way. That’s what drew me to school counseling.”

In 2023, Killikelly was accepted to the College of Education & Human Development’s M.Ed. in School Counseling program at Georgia State University’s Alpharetta Campus.

Since then, she has built her foundational knowledge about counseling K-12 students and put it into practice during her internship experiences in local schools.

“The program met my expectations in many ways, especially in how it provided a strong foundation in counseling theory, ethical decision-making and data-driven practices. I appreciated how the coursework connected directly to real-world situations in schools, preparing me to support students across academic, social/emotional and career domains,” she said. “What surprised me, though, was how much personal growth the program encouraged. I expected to learn how to support students, but I didn’t realize how much I’d be challenged to reflect on my values, biases and communication style.”

Outside of her coursework, Killikelly volunteers with the Brothers Making Moves Enrichment Academy, which offers enrichment activities, mentorship, counseling, educational support and career-skills development for middle school boys.

She helped chaperone the academy’s trip to the Georgia state Capitol with Sugar Hill Mayor Brandon Hembree and witnessed the visit’s impact on the middle schoolers who attended.

“Our boys felt seen and heard, and that feeling of empowerment will be with them forever,” she said. “To be able to nurture a group of boys and support them in maximizing their potential both academically and socially, so they can live responsibly and thrive in a global, diverse society, is a rewarding accomplishment.”

Killikelly also works as a tutor for Project Healthy Grandparents, a Georgia State program that supports grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in parent-absent homes.

The project recently took a group of grandparents and grandchildren to an Atlanta Hawks game, and she remembers how excited the families were to take their seats in State Farm Arena.

“One of my students, a sixth grader, said he never thought he would see any live games in his lifetime, and being present at that moment motivates him to become a great athlete,” she said. “Moments like these are my reminders of why I want to become a school counselor — to be part of a collective group that makes the impossible possible for our marginalized and underserved families.”

Killikelly graduated from the school counseling program this spring and plans to pursue a career as a middle school counselor.

She also hopes to become a mentor for new school counselors and continue to grow as an advocate for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or life experiences.

“As a school counselor, I hope to uplift others — particularly students from marginalized and undeserved communities — by remaining a continuous learner and permitting myself limitless creativity to remain curious as an educator and guide for students and families,” she said. “Most importantly, my goal is to empower students to believe in their potential, navigate systemic barriers and develop the tools they need to thrive personally and academically.”