If you’ve been looking for a counselor at East that is a good listener, a helper, and someone to be there for you, look no further than counselor Mike Freund. Journalism students sat down with Freund to learn more about his life inside and outside of East High School.
What is your favorite thing about being a counselor?
“When those students come back after I help them and I get to hear their success stories,” Freund said. He also likes when students come in knowing nothing and leave knowing something.
What is your perspective on East?
Freund has been working at East for one year and has a lot to say about the school. “The good definitely outweighs the bad,” Freund said. He also said that East is really diverse, and his job is different every day. This keeps him busy which allows him to see different perspectives.
Where is your favorite place to go outside of school and why?
He enjoys spending time with his wife even if it’s going out to eat. “With a two-year-old we don’t get out much,” Freund said. He also likes going to Wells Fargo to see a concert or watch the Iowa Wild play.
Tell me about your family…
He has a wife named Hannah, they’ve been married since 2016. They have a daughter named Linley who was born in 2018. His wife is an ELL teacher at Southeast Polk. “We love being outside, not in the winter,” Freund said. This is one of the things he enjoys doing with his family.
Tell me about your childhood…
Freund grew up in Richfield, Minnesota and he moved houses at the age of seven. He grew up playing football, baseball, basketball and he ran track in the eigth grade. He also had really good grades when he was younger.
Tell me about your friends as a child and how are your friends different now?
His best childhood friend was also named Mike. They hung out a lot together and would play video games and baseball together. “As you get older the opportunities to hang out with your friends become less and less,” Freund said. He also said to be intentional with who you hang out with.
What are your hobbies?
“I really like woodworking,” Freund said. He also said he likes camping, hunting, fishing and just being outside in general. Him and his family also like going to the zoo a lot.
What made you want to work at East and why?
“The eastside traditions,” Freund said. He also said that being a part of the traditions and leaving his mark on that history is really cool to him. Another reason is to help other students that are going through the stuff he went through as a child.
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