Brightpoint Brightpoint
Over a decade ago, Nick Mehdikhan became involved with Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana. At the time, the organization was working to start a Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program locally. If you spend even a short amount of time with Nick, you quickly identify his commitment to sharing his time, wisdom, and incredibly positive outlook for the future. His excitement for helping others is more than contagious.
“I tell everyone that I wish there had been a program like Brightpoint JAG when I was in high school,” shares Nick. “It’s really what high school should be all about: gaining practical life skills, learning to work together, understanding what it means to give back, working as a team, receiving and connecting with a mentor, and developing personally and socially.”
Brightpoint JAG helps prepare young people for a career and life after high school, no matter what that path looks like. JAG focuses on supporting the student through high school graduation by providing work and life learning experiences, preparing the student to embrace all future opportunities.
Nick shares that the model of the Brightpoint JAG program has always fascinated him.
“The more I got involved and volunteered in the classroom and met the students face-to-face, the more I realized how this program can translate to impact the entire community and our future workforce,” says Nick. “The insurance industry I work within is a great example of the future need of an employable workforce to fulfill a multitude of careers. This is where a program like Brightpoint JAG is so valuable.”
Opportunities Are Unlimited
Over the next seven years, the insurance industry is set to retire over 40 percent of its workforce with 28 percent already at retirement age. While Nick understands that many high-school students may not find the insurance business something they think of first for a career, he has the mentoring opportunity to encourage all students to be open to all career path choices.
“Our industry is just one that will most likely see these kinds of workforce outcomes happening in the next few years,” shares Nick. “In the insurance business we are looking at needs that range from IT to graphic design to full stack developer. If a student wants to put in some sweat equity after high school graduation, we have jobs available to meet those needs. If they are looking for a job after the military or college – we have that option as well.”
The Brightpoint Connection
Connection and participation in the Brightpoint JAG program are something Nick hopes others will see as an investment in young people right now that has the potential to have such impact not only for the student but for our businesses and communities down the road.
“I know that Brightpoint offered my family support when it was needed as I was growing up,” says Nick. “I’m not sure the community is aware of all the programs and support services Brightpoint has to offer. I’m just grateful to be coming full circle and sharing some of my knowledge and experience to help support high school juniors and seniors in JAG.”
Mentorship Has a Voice
Nick has had the opportunity to talk with other business leaders often sharing the Brightpoint JAG story with them and how investment in young people can really be an investment in our business models and culture, and the communities we all live and work in.
“When I engage with business owners who were the first in their family to graduate high school, they describe a sometimes-difficult path,” Nick says. “A path met with head winds, obstacles, and challenges along the way. The ability to weather the storm became their business superpower later in their career.”
An Awesome Responsibility
Sharing the Brightpoint JAG story, says Nick, is also about sharing the Brightpoint story and their ability to impact and support communities, families, and individuals.
“It is rewarding to know that I may have had an impact on someone that I may never know about,” says Nick. “I’m going to encourage everyone to get involved with an organization like Brightpoint that they really care about because it is a valuable, humbling, and awesome responsibility to give back and know that somehow, and in some way, you are making a difference today that will make positive change for tomorrow.”
Brightpoint JAG Students Receive: