Growing up locally and having graduated from ELHS in 2005, new school counselor David Willis finds himself returning to his roots.
In the days of the 2000s Mr. Willis walked these same halls. His wired headphones plugged into an iPod, jamming to something Foo Fighters reminiscent. Now, Mr. Willis finds himself returning to these same halls, ready to use his alumni experience to help any and all.
“Being born and raised here, it feels very full circle to be back,” Mr. Willis said. The town of East Lyme means a lot to Mr. Willis. Growing up in a big family here, Willis is tied to the local community. The sense of community he experienced during his time at ELHS, and as a town member is something he hopes to be able to recreate for students as a counselor.
Counseling and helping the youth has always been Mr. Willis’s passion.
“The reason I do this is to help inspire kids to reach their full potential. My job is to guide them along the way,” Mr. Willis said.
For Mr. Willis, when working with high schoolers, growth and change are common themes. One of the main reasons he became a counselor is the gratification that comes with the job. He has a deep desire to help teens through high school, the favorable parts and the dreadful parts.
Helping guide each student through growth and change as they prepare for college and life beyond high school is a rewarding process for him.
“High school is hard. You’re in the clouds, and trying to figure out what you want to do with your life is not easy, so my biggest goal is to make sure that everyone finds their path that makes them happy,” Mr. Willis said.
Prior to working at EL, Mr. Willis worked at Plainfield High School for 10 years, starting as a freshman counselor, then eventually guiding all grades. Outside of the office, Mr. Willis also coached girls’ basketball and led the Plainfield golf team to many victories as head coach. But with an opening close to home, Mr. Willis capitalized on the opportunity to return to his roots.
“I graduated in 2005, so definitely a lot of things are different and a lot of things are the same, believe it or not I was taught by some staff like Ms. Izzo, Mr. Bagos, and Ms. Kelly was even my counselor,” Mr. Willis said.
On the side, Mr. Willis spends his time with his family and parents who still live locally.
“My wife and two kids occupy most of my time, spending a lot of time with them and also my parents who still live in East Lyme, so I have been coming back to see them all the time.”
Alternatively, Mr. Willis is a huge hoop fan, having coaching experience and being an avid watcher of both college and NBA levels. His favorite teams are UConn at the college level and the Boston Celtics on a professional level.
Overall, East Lyme is overjoyed to welcome Mr. Willis back to the high school- this time on the other side of the desk. His positive outlooks and future plans will be a great addition to A200!
