Guiding Students Down the Right Path
Associate Director of Bradley University's SSS, Molly Drenckpohl, creates an atmosphere of guidance and caring
In a world where college students prepare everything by themselves and cannot take time to themselves and fall behind. But with amazing support people/groups, it's possible to regain that sense of accomplishment. The real problem is for the students themselves to be able to reach out, especially some people who feel like they can solve problems on their own. I sat down with Molly Drenckpohl of Bradley University's Student Support Services to discuss her role in helping students out mentally and academically.
A Sit-Down
What made you get into this specific line of work?
I remember completing a project in 1st grade about my future career; since then, my focus has been on being a helper. While pursuing my master's degree, I had the opportunity to work with college students. I instantly enjoyed working in higher education and appreciated the opportunity to work with students when they were able to make all decisions on their own, often for the first time in their lives. I believe that college is a challenging time with so many opportunities, decisions, and options; I appreciate being part of that journey with students.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is empowering others. Giving students the courage or the resources needed to be successful or simply to take a step in the right direction is so rewarding to me. I believe students are all capable; sometimes they just need support to reach success. I also appreciate empowering my colleagues by talking through student situations or providing resources so they can better support students.
What is your approach to try to take the best avenue possible to help students?
I believe relationships are key to helping anyone. It is unfair for me to assume I know what a student is going through, what they might need to lead to success, or what success even means to that student. I must first build a relationship with them and truly listen to get to know them and learn how I can best offer support.
Why do you feel some students struggle to succeed in college?
I believe some students struggle to succeed in college because life gets too big sometimes. So many things can interfere with academics - finances, physical health, mental health, relationships, loss, balancing all aspects of life, adjusting to college, etc. These external factors can make it hard to concentrate, to spend time on coursework, or simply to show up to class.
What do you think can be done more to motivate students?
This is a tough one as I believe every student is different and something different might motivate them. I do believe that goal setting is a great motivator. Sometimes that goal might be focusing on the end goal of obtaining full-time employment after graduation or that goal might be broken into smaller steps, such as showing up at class or going to office hours. The goal might need to relate to areas other than academics, such as physical or mental health or positive social interactions, to strengthen that area in order for academics to then improve.
Is there ever been a time when you felt like you just couldn't help as student in particular?
Unfortunately there are definitely times when I feel I am not able to help a particular student. This often comes when there is a change in their financial situation and they are unable to continue at Bradley or when there is a significant change in their life (a health diagnosis or a death, for example). While I can listen and provide resources, I often am left wishing I could do more when it's an external factor impacting the student. I also struggle to help a student if that student does not seem to want help or want to change.
Has there ever been a specific example of an experience that made you feel the most accomplished?
I tend to feel the most accomplished when I see a student complete something they thought was not possible. This could be graduating, passing a class, getting the courage to call counseling and ask for help, taking the difficult step to withdraw from the University, etc. When I have worked with a student and empower them to be brave in their thoughts and in taking a step forward, I feel most accomplished.
When it's all said and done, what do you want your legacy to be and what do you want people to remember about you and what you have done?
This is my favorite question so far. When it's all said and done, I want people to remember that I genuinely cared. At the end of each semester, I send a survey to all students with whom I have worked. Many questions are based on our goals as a division. I added in two questions that are the most important to me: The individual genuinely wanted to help and I was heard.
If individuals can remember me as someone who genuinely cares about them as a person, then I would consider my time here a success.
Stepping Forward
In this world where more and more, there's a severe lack of people that want to help or care enough to help, people like her are a a bright light in a world of darkness for students who absolutely need this kind of help when they don't know where else to turn and that's what makes people like her so special because they care about people in a way where it makes them feel wanted and worth something.