Throughout her four years at Pike High School, Brandi Molina-Menjivar struggled with social anxiety. After starting as a freshman in the fall of 2020, Molina-Menjivar confined herself to a small bubble of friends and familiar faces.
Then, partway through her senior year, Molina-Menjivar took a bold step. She applied for a spring internship with the DirectEmployers Institute, an Indianapolis nonprofit founded in 2014 to connect disadvantaged students with careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The position entailed organizing the institute’s flagship STEM YES! summer camp, which brings middle and high school students together for two-week sessions to build robots, develop business plans and learn about various STEM jobs.
The paid internships typically go to college students, institute founder Simone Murray told IndyStar, but she was impressed by Molina-Menjivar’s story and offered her the job. The youngest of four children whose parents migrated to Indianapolis from El Salvador shortly before she was born, Molina-Menjivar said she’s the first of her siblings to graduate high school.
Program Manager Brandi Molina-Menjivar poses for a photo Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the DirectEmployers Institute (DEI) office in Indianapolis. DEI is an organization that helps underrepresented students experience STEM professions with Indiana employers. Molina-Menjivar started as an intern in March and now works part-time with the organization.
Molina-Menjivar’s role included recruiting camp participants, so she gave informational speeches to her Pike High School peers this spring. The presentations taught her how to carry herself with confidence, she said.
That experience helped her to secure a summer internship with the organization and stay poised while working alongside older college interns.
After her internships, Molina-Menjivar accepted a part-time role as program manager with the nonprofit. She said she plans to work there until next summer, while she uses this year as a gap year to decide whether and where to attend college.
“Lots of students now, they don’t really talk to each other or interact with each other unless they are asked to …,” she told IndyStar in a recent interview at the DirectEmployers Institute’s offices. “I was also in that category where I really didn’t want to talk to anyone, let alone work with someone, unless I was already comfortable with them.”
“I want to help other students overcome similar struggles to what I had to go through,” she added.
The camp participants focus on STEM education, Murray said, and interns like Molina-Menjivar help show young students the benefits of breaking out of their social shells. The program aims to teach campers not just new technical skills from the institute’s job-shadowing and training programs, but also the confidence to say yes to opportunities.
“It’s identifying the skills that you don’t know that you have,” Murray said, “and then it’s giving you the confidence to think outside of what you thought you wanted or what your parents wanted.”
Program Manager Brandi Molina-Menjivar works Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the DirectEmployers Institute (DEI) office in Indianapolis. DEI is an organization that helps underrepresented students experience STEM professions with Indiana employers. Molina-Menjivar started as an intern in March and now works part-time with the organization.
What is the organization’s mission?
DirectEmployers Institute is a nonprofit that gives middle and high school students, particularly those who lack exposure to high-paying jobs because of their socioeconomic status or their disabilities, the chance to explore STEM careers with Indiana employers through job-shadowing and internship programs.
How many people does it serve?
In 2024, the DirectEmployers Institute served more than 500 students.
What is the organization’s No. 1 need?
The institute’s top priority is to raise more money so it can reach more students. For instance, although 150 students took part in this year’s STEM summer camp, an equal number were on the waitlist, Murray said.
How can people get involved?
Anyone can donate money and business leaders can support the DirectEmployers Institute by offering job-shadowing opportunities, hosting field trips and sending guest speakers to educate students. For more information, email Murray at simone@directemployersinstitute.org.
About DirectEmployers Institute
Address: 9100 Purdue Road, Suite 400, Raybourn Group International, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone number: 317-388-5362
Website: https://directemployersinstitute.org/
How to help through Season for Sharing
The mission of IndyStar’s annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of local journalism and you to make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth.
This year, Season for Sharing is joining the Summer Youth Program Fund, a partnership of Indianapolis funders that supports high-quality programs serving more than 80,000 Marion County youth each year. Your gift to Season for Sharing makes it possible for kids to hike, play sports, act, sing, paint, grow food, perform experiments, build robots, solve problems, explore the city, do service projects, gain job skills and earn money during their time out of school.
Last year, the Summer Youth Program Fund was able to provide only 55 cents for every dollar requested. Your generosity makes a big difference in the lives of young people in our community.
To contribute, visit indystar.com/ocdonate or mail a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your gift will go directly to Central Indiana agencies.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Season for Sharing: Indianapolis STEM summer camp for underserved students