College Experiences That Helped an Executive Director at Los Angeles Coalition For Excellent Public Schools Succeed
Joni's decision to attend the University of Michigan, "leaving home and going far away," exposed Joni to diverse perspectives and fostered curiosity about others, a crucial element in their career. This openness to new experiences, coupled with strong academic performance ("getting good grades"), significantly contributed to opportunities like Teach for America and Harvard Kennedy School, ultimately shaping their path to becoming an Executive Director.
Career Exploration, Leadership, Networking, Higher Education, Personal Growth
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Joni Angel
Executive Director
Los Angeles Coalition for Excellent Public Schools
University of Michigan 2003
Harvard Kennedy School, Master in Public Policy, 2010. Pace University, Master in the Science of Teaching, 2005.
Ethnic & Related Studies
Education, Government & Public Sector
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Experiences outside one's comfort zone: Joni emphasizes the importance of meeting diverse people and engaging in new activities during her undergraduate years. This helped her discover her interests and learn about herself.
2. Academic Excellence: Joni highlights the value of strong academics, noting that her GPA was instrumental in gaining admission to Teach for America and Harvard's Kennedy School.
3. Balance between exploration and academics: Joni stresses the importance of finding a balance between exploring new interests and maintaining strong academic performance. This approach allowed her to grow personally while also achieving academic success, making her a competitive candidate for future opportunities.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
One of the biggest things was making the decision to go to the University of Michigan. I grew up in Southern California, so leaving home and going far away was important to me. I met people from a completely different part of the country.
Most people who go to the University of Michigan are from Michigan or the Midwest. Only about 10% of the undergrads come from other places. Being with people who were different from the people I grew up with was really important to me.
I think a big part of undergrad is meeting people who are different than you and being curious about them and their lives. Even more broadly, I'd say going into undergrad, try new things. Take classes you wouldn't expect to like.
Join clubs or do activities that are different from what you typically do. All of those things can help you discover what you really like. You might not love a particular club, but something about how they operate or some aspect of what they do can teach you about yourself.
So, I think being open to new experiences and just jumping in to try them out is key. I also think this might sound old-school, but doing well and getting good grades in undergrad is helpful. The GPA I earned at the University of Michigan helped me get into Teach for America and later into the Harvard Kennedy School for grad school.
So, don't neglect your studies in favor of other things, but find a good balance. Discover yourself and what you like by trying new things, and also study hard and work hard in your classes.
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