JOG the Web: JOG Student Advocate Program
This summer, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates launched its exciting new Student Advocate program designed to deepen participants’ engagement with our office and the broader community. From joining community discussion sessions to offering peer support, these advocates are making a meaningful impact both inside JOG and beyond. As the summer wrapped up, we caught up with De’Asia, Geo, and James to reflect on their experiences as JOG Student Advocates.
Though they come from different schools, each advocate stepped into their roles as advocates in similar ways. They all described how their respective Career Specialists and classmates recognized their leadership potential and encouraged them to pursue the opportunity. They listened to their support group, interviewing to become student advocates and stepping into the roles quickly after.
This role also came with the benefit of gaining real-world work experience. James was especially excited about this experience, as it marked his first job through JOG. Despite some initial nerves, they each found their footing during the summer months of the program.
When asked about their favorite aspects of the role, De’Asia shared, “I like being a voice for other high school students. I can speak up about what we actually need and discuss things that are on other people’s minds.” This mindset of “being a leader who speaks up” is the shared commitment among our Student Advocates. They each voiced gratitude for the experience while keeping in mind the peers they represent.
Though it was tough to pick just one thing, each advocate was excited to talk about their favorite things in their positions from this summer.
James: “I appreciated being able to learn from Ms. Abbey. She helped me see fresh perspectives.”
Geo: “I learned more about adaptability and strategic planning to make plans on different ways to go into situations.”
De’Asia: “It’s been all about learning about myself and from the other advocates. [As an advocate,] you can learn from people your own age outside of your school and get to make friends along the way.”
We are so proud of the effort these participants put in during their time as Student Advocates, and their journey is just beginning! As the 2025–2026 school year begins, there will be many more chances for these young leaders to inspire their classmates and take initiative throughout the year. We look forward to seeing all the great work James, Geo, and De’Asia accomplish!
