Today@Sam Article
Commencement Spotlight: Jemma Medina
Aug. 6, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
Jemma Medina
Sugarland, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Commencement season is an exciting time for any graduate; for Jemma Medina, it represents a milestone not just for herself, but for her family.
The criminal justice major has always had her eye on service, drawing inspiration from her older brother who serves in the Army. As she got older, she began watching forensic investigation programs, instilling in her an early passion for crime scene investigation.
To pursue her dreams, Medina had to do what her parents and siblings had never done before: attend college.
“Since I’m first-generation and also the baby of the family, it was very stressful having to go through this all by myself. Especially because both of my parents are immigrants and my older siblings didn’t go to college, so they couldn’t help a lot,” she said. “I had to ask around or just figure stuff out by myself.”
After asking around and searching for her community, Medina found friends in the student organization, Ballet Folklorico. The group focuses on promoting the beauty and richness of Mexican culture through traditional folklore dance. Through the organization, she found a way to connect with her peers and show the pride she holds in her heritage.
Medina found even more support by connecting with the First-Generation Center, where she learned she didn’t have to face the challenges of attending college by herself.
“They helped me understand what being first-gen was like and helped me find myself in a way because I always thought that I was alone and that I didn’t have anyone until I surrounded myself with more first-gen people,” Medina said.
The kindness she was shown at the center left a lasting impact and inspired Medina to help other students like her. She began working at the center in the spring and developed a passion for supporting her fellow first-generation students.
“I think it’s very important to have a first-generation center on campus because a lot of students now are first-gen, especially if you come from a family that just didn’t have the resources to access college,” Medina said. “There’s a lot of first-gen students out there and I just feel like it helps students find a home and feel comfortable in college.”
Even though her time on campus is coming to an end, Medina is not done with SHSU. This fall, she will begin working toward her master’s in criminal justice, taking her knowledge and skills to the next level and preparing her for the future. In fact, she was able to get a head start on her future career thanks to a summer internship with private investigation firm, Willis and Associates.
During her time at the firm, Medina and her colleagues would conduct interviews, investigate court cases and police reports, then compile all of the information they gathered into comprehensive reports. While the work can be strenuous, Medina is confident that the time management skills she has developed over the years will allow her to keep up with her assignments
“I plan everything out. I always use planners or set up reminders to help me stay on track,” she said. “Ever since my freshman year I would work and go to school at the same time, that taught me at an early stage to learn how to focus and balance work from school. Also, my job is very flexible so I can work from home and work on my master’s at the same time.”
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