🌱 Seeds of Growth: Deyonni's Corporate Work Study Experience

Getting Started: Learning the Ropes at San Mateo Police Department

In her frosh and sophomore years, Deyonni helped review, organize, and prepare materials for a variety of onboarding documents to ensure they were clear and accessible for officers in training. This early experience emphasized teamwork and attention to detail, while also introducing her to a professional law enforcement environment. Experiencing law enforcement in action allowed Deyonni to witness the procedures she had helped prepare during her freshman year being applied in the field, making the connection between her behind-the-scenes work and real-world policing tangible and meaningful.

Junior year brought more direct public interaction as Deyonni began working at the front desk. In this role, she greeted visitors, answered questions, distributed forms, and kept confidential paperwork organized. This experience strengthened her ability to remain professional and composed while working with the public, reinforcing the importance of clear communication and organization in a real workplace setting.

From Aspiration to Action: Deyonni’s Senior Year at Cahill Contractors

Deyonni’s current placement at Cahill Contractors aligns closely with Deyonni’s long-term interests and felt especially meaningful after years of preparation. Her responsibilities include giving school tours of construction sites, visiting active job sites to observe progress, and supporting office tasks such as filing and laminating. While some duties are routine, the opportunity to engage in work she had aspired to since freshman year made the experience especially rewarding.

“My CWS placements helped me realize I didn’t need to adopt a different personality to succeed at work. Being able to communicate authentically while still meeting professional expectations has made me more comfortable interacting with adults and handling real responsibilities.”