Guidance counseling at its best

September 28 started off like a normal day at Sycamore Middle School in Cheatham County, Tennessee. Guidance counselor Molly Hudgens (shown below) was ready to greet students at her office when a 14-year-old boy walked in. He explained that he wanted to kill some teachers and a police officer, but not students. She asked if he had a gun, and he showed her the .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with two loaded magazines which he had in his waistband. He said he came to her because she was the only person who could talk him out of it.

                                                                                                  Ashland City Times / File photo
"I'm not surprised. She's the type of person that would be easy for her to get through to somebody. She has a very loving, caring, motherly personality," said Hudgens' friend Jessica Williams. Hudgens has taught at Sycamore Middle School since 1999. She started as a language arts teacher and joined the counseling department in 2006. She has a Master's degree in school counseling. She and the student talked for about 45 minutes before he agreed to give her the gun. The student was then arrested by a school resource officer. No shots were fired and there was no struggle. The next day, Hudgens said modestly, "Yesterday my previous training and experience granted me the opportunity to help a student in need, while protecting our school family as well." No classes were interrupted.