José Medina
School & Community Outreach Manager
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Indianapolis, IN USA
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationJosé Medina
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I initially wanted to be a weatherman, so I started college as a climatology and meteorology major.
I eventually decided the major involved too much math for me, so I switched to political science.
After college, I did one year of service for Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program, where I worked at a food bank—I realized that getting paid to give back to the community really resonated with me.
I transferred to another nonprofit that did student mentoring and discovered that I especially liked focusing on education within the public service field.
That education interest led to me taking the opportunity to join the Indiana Commission for Higher Education as an outreach coordinator.
Now, as a school and community outreach manager, I go out and speak to students, families, and educators about the different post-secondary options for students.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Bachelor
Political Science
Arizona State University
Political Science
Arizona State University
Career
School & Community Outreach Manager
I help students learn about their options after high school.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Government
Education
Helping People
Day to Day
Every day looks different. One day I might go visit a school and speak with middle school students about their post-secondary options. Another day I might need to wear a suit, go to a board meeting, and give a presentation. I could also be meeting with government representatives. My role offers a lot of versatility, which I really like.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for middle school students
Follow your gut and don't be afraid to explore. If something looks really interesting to you, take the initiative to learn more about it. Bring a friend if you need more support! If you want to go into a similar field as mine, there are multiple paths you can take. I would say a liberal arts degree—which is what I have—is great since it is so versatile and teaches you to critically think and analyze.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I can't ask for help. I need to figure this out on my own."
