Finding the Counselor He Never Had: How Sacred Heart Helped Cyrus Cotto Discover His Purpose
| 5 Min Read
When Cyrus Cotto talks about becoming a school counselor, it’s about much more than earning a degree or finding a career. It’s personal.
He knows what it feels like to navigate high school without the support he needed. Now, he’s determined to become the trusted adult he wishes he’d had—someone who listens, encourages, and helps students through some of the most challenging years of their lives.
“My own high school counselor wasn’t that person for me,” Cyrus said. “That’s a big part of why I want to be exactly that for the students I work with.”
Today, Cyrus is pursuing his Master of Arts in School Counseling at Sacred Heart University, and every class, residency, and field experience has reinforced that he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.
Choosing a Program That Fit His Life
Sacred Heart’s low-residency format let Cyrus keep both jobs while working toward a graduate degree, completing coursework online around a schedule that already had little wiggle room. It’s a structure the University built specifically for adult learners who can’t put a career on pause to go back to school, and it meant Cyrus didn’t have to choose between an income and an education.
“The reason I landed on Sacred Heart was really about accessibility,” Cyrus said. “Being able to take online courses with a schedule that worked for me was a huge factor. I was working two jobs and had a lot going on, so I needed a program that could fit into my life.” The online format allowed him to continue working while moving toward a career he had become passionate about.
“The reason I landed on Sacred Heart was really about accessibility. Being able to take online courses with a schedule that worked for me was a huge factor. I was working two jobs and had a lot going on, so I needed a program that could fit into my life.”
The Residency Format
Although much of the Master of Arts in School Counseling program is online, there are elements that are in-person as well. Twice, students travel to Sacred Heart’s Fairfield, Connecticut, campus for week-long residencies. For Cyrus, that shift from screen to in-person classroom was initially a challenge. “I’m a pretty anxious person, and I had only ever met my classmates and professors virtually. There was a lot of unknown,” he said.
The nerves didn’t last, however. Hands-on practice, direct faculty feedback, and a cohort of classmates who understood exactly what Cyrus was feeling turned an intimidating week into a turning point. “We didn’t just sit and receive information,” he said. “We actually practiced the skills we’d been developing online. We were hands-on from day one. There were nerves, but by the end of that week, I knew exactly who I wanted to be.”
Cyrus also points to the relationships built during that week, including the ones he built with faculty like Dr. Crook. “Dr. Crook is absolutely fantastic as a person, a counselor, and a professor,” Cyrus said. The connections also extended to classmates who are now lifelong friends.
For students worried about the residency requirement, his advice is simple: “Don’t let it deter you. This experience is truly once in a lifetime.”
Support in His Practicum
The support Cyrus has received from his professors is one of the most important aspects of the program for him. When being placed in his high school practicum, he worked closely with Dr. Tara Fox. “She was fantastic,” he said. “She even reached out to schools on my behalf when I wasn’t getting responses.”
Before long, Cyrus found placement at a school called Smithfield. “I worked under an amazing counselor who helped me learn not just how to be a counselor, but how to be myself in that space,” he said. “Everyone has their own unique way of doing things, and she really helped me find mine.”
A Clear Goal, Rooted in Personal Experience
When reflecting on his academic journey, Cyrus is thankful for how things turned out. “I’ve been through a lot with school,” he said. “I went to multiple colleges. I flunked out at one point. I didn’t go back for a few years. Finishing at Sacred Heart is going to feel like arriving somewhere I worked very hard to get to. After everything, I did this.”
Cyrus aspires to share this newfound optimism with his own students. “I hope the students I work with will carry something forward from our time together,” he said. “You might not have all the answers for them, but being present in that moment can have an enormous impact.”
About the Program
Sacred Heart University’s online Master of Arts in School Counseling is a 60-credit-hour, low-residency program built for working adults who want to become PK-12 school counselors without pausing their careers. Coursework is delivered online, with two week-long, on-campus residencies at Sacred Heart’s Fairfield, Connecticut, campus that give students hands-on practice, direct faculty feedback, and in-person community with classmates.
The curriculum is aligned with CACREP standards and is grounded in the American School Counselor Association’s National Model, preparing graduates to support PK-12 students across academic development, college and career readiness, and social-emotional learning. Students complete practicum and internship hours in real K-12 settings, building the direct-service experience required for licensure and certification in most states.
Learn more about Sacred Heart University’s online Master of Arts in School Counseling program.