Meet our Specialist of the Month winner for October, Josh Todd, a Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) in-school specialist from Networks Northwest. Josh has been a JMG specialist for one and a half years and has been making a huge impact in the lives of the youth he serves. We asked several questions so you can get to know Josh better:
Why did you become a JMG Specialist?
After departing from working in higher education, I felt something was missing, a void. I became a JMG specialist to return to my passion of helping today's youth and students navigate and explore their next steps in high school and beyond.
What inspires you about your job?
The excitement of the students as they want to learn and explore what lies ahead for them in their next steps inspires me to do my job. Watching them find and create new goals and aspirations that they might not have known existed keeps me motivated to keep doing what I am doing!
Recall a favorite memory about being a specialist. (an event, a youth accomplishment, etc.)
One of my favorite moments as a specialist was watching one of my shy, timid students give a speech in front of the entire school for Veterans Day. Seeing the student put his timidity aside to share his voice with everyone was so rewarding. I honestly had no idea this student was going to do this. It was a quiet victory as I watched this student find that confidence in the moment.
What is one of the greatest challenges you face in your job?
As a JMG specialist, my greatest challenge lies in the limited time I have with students. Students want more, more guidance, more support, and more exposure to opportunities. Working with three different schools, I feel my time is too short with the students.
Imagine the potential if I could spend more time at each school! Not only would it benefit the students directly, but it would also ripple out to the entire community. I believe that investing more time with our students means investing in the future of our communities, region, and state.
What is one of the most prominent highlights/joys of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of being a JMG specialist for me is the opportunity to learn continuously, network/collaborate with others, and share experiences. Being able to do the things I enjoy everyday but still being there to watch my youth find their own drive/purpose and seeing the ah-ha moment click for them is by far the most prominent highlight.
Why do you think JMG is so important for youth?
JMG is so Important for youth for many reasons, but the two main reasons for me are:
Many students are unaware of the array of career possibilities available to them. Youth do not know what youth do not not know. Without exposing youth to different fields, they might miss out on exciting opportunities because they never knew they existed before. JMG bridges this gap by introducing them to many career paths.
Not every student has access to a supportive adult, but we can step into that role, helping them navigate the world alongside them. As specialists, we have the privilege of opening doors that students never knew existed. When students share their dreams and aspirations, we can guide them toward connecting the dots and achieving those goals.
Share your hobbies, do you have any pets, what do you like to do in your spare time, etc.
My hobbies include boating, hunting, fishing, golfing, spending time with my children, and watching college sports.
A couple random facts to get to know you better.
I am a firm believer in working hard, playing hard! I secretly love cooking and gardening. I have won multiple awards for commercial cider-making at international competitions.
Fun fact:
I am an ice fishing fanatic and an NMU Wildcat for Life!
Nominations are open to ALL, including our employer partners! If you know a phenomenal specialist, we encourage you to nominate them as our November Specialist of the month.
Nominate a specialist who deserves to be recognized, here.
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