Finding Your “Why” Before Graduation: How Wilson Talent Center Gave One Student a Head Start
(A student’s perspective on work-based learning, career exploration, and discovering direction.)
For many students, the pressure to “figure it all out” before graduation can feel overwhelming. College? Career? Something else entirely?
In this episode of the Education UnPacked Podcast, host Micki O’Neil sits down with Aidan Daenzer, a graduate of the Wilson Talent Center’s Business and Risk Management program, to share how hands-on learning, job shadows, and internships helped him gain clarity, confidence, and a meaningful head start before college.
Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Download the full E09 Transcript.
From Wilson Talent Center to Michigan State University
Aidan spent two years at the Wilson Talent Center, including time as an intern at Ingham ISD. Now a student in the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, he credits much of his early success to the experiences he gained while still in high school.
“I attribute most of my head start at MSU to what I learned during Wilson and the opportunities I was given,” Aidan shares.
Through the program, Aidan earned industry designations, connected with professionals across multiple fields, and built confidence navigating professional environments—experiences many students don’t encounter until well into college.
Ten Job Shadows, Endless Insight
One standout experience: 10 different job shadows during his second year at Wilson.
Rather than locking into one path too early, Aidan explored a range of industries—from commercial insurance and finance to media, photography, and news.
“Part of our program was just experience—find out what your passion is going to be and explore it,” he explains.
Those short, real-world experiences helped him identify not only what interested him—but just as importantly, what didn’t.
Learning to Network Before It Counts
Beyond technical knowledge, Aidan gained something even more valuable: practice connecting with people.
By regularly meeting professionals, pitching himself, and asking questions, he developed networking skills that now serve him well at MSU job fairs and campus events.
“Having two years of practice meeting people, learning how to pitch yourself, and showing your potential—that’s huge,” Aidan says
Internships That Make a Difference
While still in high school, Aidan completed three internships:
During the school year at Ingham ISD
Over the summer at a State Farm agency
Post-graduation with Michigan Millers, a local commercial insurance company
These experiences provided professional exposure that many college freshmen don’t yet have—giving Aidan both confidence and clarity as he moved forward.
The Lesson That Stuck: Find Your “Why”
One of the most impactful moments came early in his Wilson experience: creating a personal mission and vision statement.
That exercise helped Aidan define a guiding principle—to learn as much as possible and use that knowledge to help others.
“Wilson helped me find my ‘why,’” he says. “If you have some direction based on how you want to impact the world, that’s the best thing you can do as a young person.”
Advice for Students Considering CTE Programs
Aidan’s message to students thinking about the Wilson Talent Center or other career and technical education programs is simple:
Try things.
Take chances.
Say yes to opportunities—even when you’re unsure.
“You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going,” he says. “But having experiences helps guide your journey.”
Why It Matters
Stories like Aidan’s highlight the power of work-based learning and career exploration before graduation. Programs like those at Wilson Talent Center don’t ask students to have all the answers—they give them space, support, and real-world exposure to discover them.
Learn More
Explore career and technical education opportunities at the Wilson Talent Center through Ingham ISD at inghamisd.org, and discover more student stories and podcasts at BackPackPress.org.
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Wilson Talent Center graduate Aiden Daenzer shares how job shadows, internships, and real-world learning helped him discover his “why,” gain professional confidence, and enter college with a powerful head start.
Culinary Arts students from Wilson Talent Center took the lead at a recent board dinner hosted by the Michigan Hospitality Foundation, teaching trustees how to craft a gourmet three-course meal from scratch.
