Paula's Takeaways From Emily's Story

Paula Dennis is a Counselor at Jenks High School, OK.

Venkat Raman

Feb 12, 2025

Pennoni Honors College. (Inset) Emily’s UG Research.

I asked Paula Dennis of Jenks High School to select a story from my Podcast and share her takeaways with us.

Paula picked the episode on Emily Woodland, a student at Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University.

Here is my edited conversation with Paula.

Q: Let’s start with the story you picked.

Paula: I chose the podcast with Emily Woodland of Drexel University. She is a student that our students would definitely relate to.

She's first generation. The college application process was all new to her.
Some of the things that she found important in a college is what our students would relate to.
She was a theater kid that didn't have her future and college plans decided for her by her parents as a baby.

So she's definitely someone that would resonate well with our students.

Q: What were the 2 or 3 things that stood out about Emily?

Paula: The first thing was Emily's mother's advice to her to “keep it small” is wise, especially when seniors go through the application process.

They're so stressed at that time of year.
They have college applications, they have semester finals, they're receiving admission decisions.
They have so much pressure.

So, the mother's advice to keep it small, to tackle one step at a time, is what we try to tell students.

And then when Emily shared her own advice for students, it was even better. A lot of times students would listen to someone that has just gone through the process.

Emily says use a paper notebook. We're so used to doing everything through the computer or laptop or whatever, but sometimes just using a paper notebook and writing it down is helpful.
Her other piece of advice is to accept help from others, is great. Listen to those who support and love you.
So she's just spot on with everything that we try to tell students. But coming from Emily is much better. They will listen to her a lot of times better than us.

I also really appreciated the experiences that she shared through her Co Op program.

Q: So, what about the Co Op? What did you take away from that?

Paula: Yes, well, what I really liked was Emily's takeaways from the Co Op, in that it wasn't really her favorite.

And even though it wasn't her favorite, or she didn't receive the best placement that maybe was right for her, she still made the most of it, and that's just a lesson and a lifelong lesson for all of us.
And she was able to share what she did learn in that. She learned how to conduct herself in meetings.
For example, She learned business and professional skills that students don't learn in classes.
She learned tools to use she was able to use Microsoft Excel at a better or higher level.

So I really appreciated that she was able to see the good, and find the good that came through that program, and learning to make the best of a situation.

We have students in an internship program. And we hear the same thing, that they maybe thought they wanted to become an engineer, and after spending a semester working in an engineering company, they came away thinking, I don't want to be an engineer, or they come away thinking, that is my career, that is my passion.

So, you know, learning from experiences is just huge, and Emily was able to express that really well.

Q: Before we close, is there a question or two that you would like students reflect on?

Paula: There were many things that I would ask, and want them to find in the podcast.

“What did you think was great advice?”
“How would you approach a professor about doing research?”
- Emily gave great advice that she contacted the professor and had no idea if they would even reply. And she got a great research opportunity by contacting the professor. And you know, we hear that so many times.
- I have a junior right now that did the same thing with one of our universities that's near our school. He just sent an email to all the professors in his area of interest.
- He got a reply, and now he's doing research that he loves and is really passionate about it as a junior in high school!
So I would ask them, “How can you reach out to others, even though you may not think you have a chance at something?”

By reaching out you're at least trying for an opportunity!

Hope you find Paula’s insights about the Emily’s story helpful.

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