This year Fort Lauderdale High School welcomed Ms. Joann Bodah as the school counselor for tenth through twelfth-grade students. This is Bodah’s fifth year as a school counselor. Previously, she worked at Cooper City High School and Olsen Middle School. She is an alumna.

“I am loving it here,” she commented. “Being here feels like home to me. Even though a lot has changed on the outside, the Flying L heart is still beating on the inside.”

As a school counselor, Bodah’s goal is to get to know her students and to help seniors achieve their post-secondary goals. She strives to be someone with whom students are comfortable sharing information and asking for advice. 

“Whether it be in your personal life or your academic goals, I want to be a resource, and a voice of reason to light the way so that you can make the best choice for yourself,” she shared.

Bodah is a mother to two young men. One is a junior at the University of Central Florida, and the other is a freshman here at FLHS. In her spare time, Bodah enjoys hiking, traveling, working out, taking long walks, going line dancing, playing pickleball, and spending time with her family. 

She lives her life by her own motto. “‘You learn something new every day if you pay attention, so with each day and every lesson I am becoming unapologetically me.’ I came up with this motto because it is my truth,” she explained. “I learn something I didn’t know every single day, and I try to use what I learn to become the best version of myself.  Even on the hard days, you find little nuggets of wisdom that shape you into who you are.  No matter your age or circumstance, never stop learning and growing. Life is about becoming the best version of yourself and enjoying the ride as you go.”