College banners line the walls of Room 305, reminders of the seniors who once stood there, nervous but hopeful, just like the ones coming in today.
College Counselor Ms. Jo Duke works with students in Room 305, the College Office, answering emails, flipping through scholarship forms, and, most importantly, offering reassurance to every senior who walks through the door, searching for guidance in the daunting college application process.
With years of experience and a background in psychology, Ms. Duke brings clarity to students facing one of the biggest decisions in their lives.
“I call myself a Career Awareness & College Access Counselor, but LAUSD refers to me as a College Counselor,” she said.
She understands how overwhelming the process can be and sees her job as helping students find both a path and a purpose.
Duke always had a natural drive to help others, but it wasn’t until she earned her master’s degree in psychology and studied College Counseling at UC Berkeley that she turned it into a career.
“My high school didn’t have any counselors, but my friends and peers were always asking me for advice,” Duke says. “So, in a way, I’ve been serving as a counselor for most of my life—I just wasn’t getting paid for it until I earned the proper credentials just before my 50th birthday.”
Ms. Duke’s passion for guiding students stems from her own journey to discover her passions. With a mother who wanted her to study finances and a father who disapproved of her desire to follow in his footsteps as an aviator, the road to finding her drives was all but smooth.
“My mom wanted me to be a financier,” she said. “But I struggle with keeping numbers straight. I don’t do anything in a linear way, really.”
The turning point came during college where a career assessment helped her see where she truly thrived.
“What a relief it was to realize that there are so many great colleges out there looking for students with all kinds of levels of academic success,” she said. “It was also a relief to realize that not all skills and strengths show up on standardized exams or academic transcripts.”
Having started her undergraduate studies for a bachelor’s degree in theater at Wesleyan College before transferring to Purdue University, Ms. Duke garnered experience in numerous fields — all of which helped her discover her passion.
Her passion for helping students took shape through years of study, including graduate work in psychology and training at UC Berkeley and UCLA.
Whether it’s attending a four-year university, enrolling in community college, joining the military, or entering a trade school, she stresses that every path is valuable.
“All of you are important,” she said. “I want to help you find what you’re good at and get paid for it. Everyone has a future, and I love helping them discover it.”
Senior Ellen Lalafaryan expressed her gratitude for Ms. Duke’s guidance throughout the complex college application process.
“Ms. Duke has been very helpful, patient and supportive throughout my college application process,” she said. “There were definitely parts of the application that I didn’t expect and was confused about but Ms. Duke was always there to help me out in times of confusion.”
Senior Srivatsav Senthilkumar says that Ms. Duke helped him with his college application essays.
“I think she helped me a lot because she gave me insights as to what each college prefers and how to write a good application essay,” Senthilkumar said.
Although Ms. Duke has only been here for three years, she has made a great impact on students like Lalafaryan looking to pursue their post-graduation goals.
Her first year came with challenges.
“My first year here, Ms. Gaytan and I had a huge learning curve,” Ms. Duke shared. “But we ended up doubling the number of students who enrolled in college.”
Her focus includes bringing opportunities like the UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program and hosting workshops for financial aid.
Beyond helping students with applications, Ms. Duke strives to help students find the college that best suits their interests.
“College is a major life decision,” she says. “It’s not just about picking a school; it’s about finding an environment where you’ll grow, learn and be happy.”
Although college application season has ended, Ms. Duke advises students to continue being diligent.
“Keep your eye on the target,” she stated. “Read your emails carefully! Follow instructions. Turn in your homework and assignments—please don’t exhaust your teachers by waiting until the deadline or asking for an extension.”
“You don’t have to figure this out alone,” Ms. Duke said. “We’re here to help. No matter what your goals are, we’ll find a path to get you there. There are multiple ways to climb any mountain. I want every student to discover their own path.”
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 print edition.