MilSpouse Mondays with Nichelle Medina
Welcome to MilSpouse Mondays, a weekly series dedicated to tackling some of the biggest challenges today’s military spouses are facing. Each week, Meditec will feature a unique guest to share their experiences and offer a new perspective on the military spouse experience. This week’s guest is Nichelle Medina, an award-winning San Diego-based news anchor with a deep connection with the military. Not only has Nichelle won countless Emmys for her work on the screen, but she’s also been praised off camera for her dedication to supporting her local community and military families around the world. You can read our interview with Nichelle below:
Nichelle, can you provide a brief overview your experience as a military spouse?
I was born into the Army, raised in the Marine Corps, then became a military spouse. I grew up moving and honestly, couldn't even count the times. Because of all the moves as a child, I knew I would not move once I married into the military (pre-marriage discussion). When my husband would PCS, I would stay put due to the demands and obligations of my job (I was already in TV). It is not ideal for everyone, but it has worked well for us. We have been through 8 deployments!
You’ve devoted a lot of your free time volunteering for military causes and foundations, receiving a Golden Bell Award and other praise for your humanitarian efforts along the way. What’s motivated you to go above and beyond to not only support your local community, but also military families around the world?
I want to give back to the community I grew up in; it truly feels like home. The military community helped to shape me as a child (i.e. work ethic, dedication) and I want to give back when I can.
So far, throughout your career, you’ve managed to win 11 Emmy awards, many of which have been a product of your top-class Military reporting. What’s been your secret to excelling professionally while also dealing with the challenges and hurdles that come with being a military spouse?
My secret? I have never let my husband's career or success, dictate mine. So many military spouses forget to focus on their careers or maybe they settle for a career to better support their husband's. Military spouses are a force to be reckoned with when they are at their best! I believe both CAN have fulfilling careers, because it makes you as a couple, happy in the end. The path to get there will be hard, but long term, you won't have regrets or "what-ifs." I have had the pleasure of meeting so many highly educated women, who are brilliant. However, some decide to put their dreams on the back burner due to military life. You don't have to.
If you want something bad enough, you find a way. For us, it was a conversation BEFORE we got married about my goals. My husband was 100% on board. For us, it was me staying in one place to focus on my job or the flexibility for ME to move if an opportunity ever came up.
Being a military spouse has been described as many as one big learning curve. With that said, what are some of the biggest things that you’ve learned about yourself throughout your time as a military spouse?
I am fiercely independent and capable of handling just about anything (maybe I can't change a tire, but I can call USAA). My marriage isn't perfect, but it is solid!
If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self, experiencing life as a military spouse for the first time, what would you say?
You will form some of the most incredible friendships with fellow military spouses, but seek out a more seasoned spouse--THEY GET IT!!! These are the ladies who can truly mentor you through deployments, career, family life. and you can trust them! Don't be afraid to ask them for help, support and guidance. Most are more than willing to help because they've all been there. We at Meditec want to thank Nichelle for taking part in MilSpouse Mondays. You can stay up to date with Nichelle on Twitter and Facebook. Also, be sure check back with us next week for another installment of MilSpouse Mondays. Missed last week’s MilSpouse Mondays? Click here to read our interview with Krystel Spell, founder of ArmyWife101.
About Meditec Meditec is a career training site specifically designed to help America’s military spouses succeed professionally, regardless of where life takes them. Our accredited, affordable, MyCAA-approved courses are centered around career opportunities that allow individuals to work from home or on the road. Not only that, but we also guide military spouses throughout the MyCAA process, helping them earn scholarships to put towards career advancement programs.