Dimi Poulos: From Mrs.TSU to Miss Poulos

BY DREW FLEMING 

Assistant Producer 

“Comfort is the enemy of progress” has been the mantra Dimi Poulos has lived by since leaving her hometown of Liling, Texas, four years ago. Poulos left her hometown wanting something different; she wanted to be in a place full of opportunities that would push her out of her comfort zone, which is what led her to Tarleton State University. 

“I wanted to figure out who I was outside of my town. I wanted to figure out what that looked like for me and what opportunities could have come from that. It's so easy to stay in what you're comfortable in,” Poulos said. “I wanted something new. I want to get out of my comfort zone, I want to meet new people, I want to experience new things.”

Poulos has taken advantage of every opportunity she could at Tarleton, starting with being a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, in which she has held numerous positions during her four years. She was vice president of public relations for Panhellenic. She served the incoming freshman classes as both a Tarleton Transition Mentor and a part of the leadership team. 

Poulos has showcased her love for service as the assistant director of development for Tarleton Round Up, as well as being a part of the Tarleton Serves service committee. During her time at Tarleton, she was also president of the Tarleton Ambassadors Club. 

Most of all, she has had the opportunity to shape young minds and find her true passion within the classroom. 

Being the middle child with four sisters and a first-generation college student, she has known from a young age that teaching was a part of her story. Within the Tarleton education program, she started student teaching as a junior and has now started her full-time residency at Granbury ISD. 

“Education is something that no one can take away from you. I think there's something so rewarding in teaching, and you always remember your teachers,” Poulos said. “I think that it's something that has truly shaped me into who I am. I have never felt more passionate about something and doing something, just so content.” 

Citlaly Rodriguez is a junior and a three-year member of Delta Phi Epsilon. Poulos and Rodriguez have been a big-little pair within their sorority for three years. The two met when Rodriguez was a freshman at Duck Camp and have been friends ever since. 

“Dimi has one of the biggest hearts I've ever met,” Rodriguez said. “It’s so inspiring to see how she loves her classroom. It's so heartwarming to see how much she cares for her students and how she loves them.” 

One of the biggest things that drives Poulus to be a teacher is reflected by her favorite quote: "Love them today, so they can learn tomorrow.” This quote has shaped her teaching philosophy and given her the drive to continue her journey as an elementary education major. 

“For these kids, school is their safe space, and it is absolutely astounding to me that we get to create that atmosphere for them. We have the opportunity to provide something for them that is so magical and makes their life worthwhile; it is so special,” Poulos said. “This is my calling. This is what I'm put here to do. I'm put here to I'm here on this Earth to feed these children and let them know that they are the creators of their own destiny, and they can do hard things. We support them when they're at their best and bring them up when they're at their lowest.” 

Yareni Davila Cabrera is a senior elementary education major and has been friends with Poulos for more than two years. The two met while both were volunteering through Tarleton’s Alternative Spring Break. 

“Dimi has been a part of countless organizations at Tarleton. I admire how she's been able to manage her time and give 110% to each of those, and she shows up and shows out whenever she's a part of something,” Davila Cabrera said. “Her dedication to the community here in Stephenville and to serving others is amazing; she is so selfless.
She is so involved but still serves others and puts others first before herself.” 

Anyone around her attests that Poulos is an outstanding example of what it means to be a Tarleton Texan and member of the Stephenville community. Throughout her four years at Tarleton she has not only been crowned Mrs. TSU, but has been a member of many organizations, and most of all, has become Miss Poulos to her students. 

“Her energy, how she delivers it, carries through into the classroom, and I know her students are so lucky to have her,” Davila Cabrera said. “I know she will do amazing things at Granbury, and I know she's destined for big, big things, so I'm super excited to see where life takes her and how she's able to make a positive impact wherever she goes.” 

Poulos starts her job this August as a kindergarten teacher in Granbury ISD. She plans to continue her education and go on to get her master's degree, and to continue to step out of her comfort zone while making an impact on the kids in her classroom, just as she has at Tarleton.