_{In the latest edition of the Opportunity Next Colorado Speaks: Student Spotlight series, Gia Rodriguez, a 2024 graduate of Denver Public Schools, shares in her own words how she “learned up” to find her next step after high school. For Gia, “learning up” was a process of discovery – one where she reflected on her family, on coaching experiences with teachers and professionals in a field that interested her, and ultimately on herself, to think through what education after high school and a potential career look like.} 

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What drives me to go to college is my family. My mom, who didn't get the chance to finish high school herself, inspires me every day. For many of my relatives, the path to education after high school was uncharted not due to a lack of ambition, but because the necessary information about opportunities was inaccessible. I've been fortunate enough to be exposed to opportunities in high school and see college as a pivotal moment to reshape my family's future and trajectory because I can be the first in my family to go, which is huge.

Part of my journey was determining my career pathway and what education after high school would look like for me. It really started with my teachers. They helped out in a way that no one else could. They helped me learn more, and see how I learn for myself. They were there for me and helped me to understand that my learning disability didn’t have to keep me from achieving my goals. They also helped me to become more independent, to believe in myself, and to keep going. I do not think that I would have graduated without them. 

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The leaders of the Junior Police Academy internship program were also instrumental. At first, I went into the program and wanted to be a police officer, but through it, I was able to learn about other careers that excited me more. It’s really interesting to hear a police officer's perspective on what they’re doing and what got them into this work because sometimes it helps you to hear from other people who have been through it before. I asked a police officer if this was the first thing they chose, and they said, “No, it wasn’t.” Sometimes your first idea isn’t the best one to follow, and if you consider other ideas you can find something you like better.

It was a really interesting perspective, and it’s advice that made me think about what I want to do. I want to be somewhere helping people, just not out in the field. That’s why I think coaching is really important for everybody – to learn from other people’s experiences and to learn from other people what is possible.

“That’s why I think coaching is really important for everybody – to learn from other people’s experiences and to learn from other people what is possible.” ‍

Education after high school for me is college and doing something that I really love and want to do. After graduating from high school in June, I am excited to learn more about careers where I can study human behavior and support families and individuals. I want to be in a field that requires me to be flexible with my time and quick in decision-making without being too emotional, especially when supporting people who are going through loss. 

I am still working on so many things related to this work and am grateful for the opportunity to pursue education after high school in a field that I know excites me. It is ok to change your careers and to take time to think for yourself. But I know that I want to be somewhere in the world helping people, helping them get justice, helping them with grief and what a lot of people are going through right now — which is losing somebody and not knowing how to settle it, that’s what I want to do. 

And I’m excited about college. I’m excited about not just learning, but learning what I really want to do in this field and in life at large.

Opportunity Next Colorado offers all Colorado Class of 2024 high school graduates free education and career coaching. Sign up and learn more at https://www.opportunitynext.org/coaching.