Faces of CNM: Jon Poindexter
Jon Poindexter wasn’t even 18-years-old when he made the bold choice to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He worked as an Aviation Machinist Mate for eight years, and now he’s here at CNM working towards earning a college degree.
“I’m kind of creating a custom degree in the Integrated Studies program,” Jon says. “I wanted to be able to choose what skills I think I’ll need to succeed after college.”
Jon has high aspirations. Inspired by a fellow Navy sailor, Jon wants to own multiple rental properties. He says he’s learning the skills that he’ll need to be able to maintain those prospective properties through CNM’s certificate program in Plumbing and Gas Fitting.
Jon says that he understands that owning multiple properties is a large undertaking and requires seed money. Jon wants to become a “journeyman” in the Local 412 Union for Plumbers and Pipefitters, and put his skills to use on new construction projects while saving the money he needs to acquire properties.
“I really want to become a journeyman as soon as I can,” Jon says. “I talked to the folks at the Local 412 Union and they told me that having certifications, like the ones offered here at CNM, is the best way to excel fast.”
Jon is also in the process of earning his Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certification through CNM’s Truck Driving Program.
“I want to be as diverse as possible so that I am more appealing when it comes to future employers,” he says. “I’m going to have to work my butt off if I am going to make my property-owning business dream a reality. At CNM, I am getting the skills I need to do that.”
Jon currently works as a student employee in CNM’s Veteran Resource Center (VRC), where he helps other vets navigate the process of applying to college.
“When veterans come into the VRC and they want to get their military benefits started and learn the ins and outs of how CNM works, that’s what me and the other work studies specialize in because we’ve been through that process before,” Jon says.
According to Jon, the process of combing federal financial aid for military benefits like the G.I. Bill® can be a complicated and daunting process. His goal is to help veterans complete these processes so that they can benefit from a college education.
“They come in and they have no clue what this is going to be like. ‘Where do I go?’ ‘What do I do first?’ ‘I am considered fulltime?’ These are all questions that I get asked on a day-to-day basis.” Jon says. “I get to sit down and help them make sense of all the moving parts involved in being a veteran college student. It’s a good feeling to know that I am helping in that way.”
Learn more about CNM’s Integrated Studies Program.
Learn more about CNM’s Plumbing and Gas Fitting Program.
Learn more about CNM’s Truck Driving Program.
Disclaimer: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.