Building things has been in David's blood for as long as he can remember. Recognizing his natural spark for creation early on, David's father bought him Lego sets to nurture his hands-on creativity. As David grew older, that childhood curiosity turned into real experience as he worked right alongside his dad on construction sites. He also loved spending peaceful days fishing outdoors with his father. However, school was not always easy. Diagnosed with a learning disability at age 10, David struggled with bullying and low self-confidence in his early school years.

When Alexandria, known to her friends and teachers as Alex, first walked through the doors of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School in 2022, she carried more than just a backpack. She carried the weight of a difficult past and a hesitant heart.

Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is built on a simple, powerful truth: every single student is fully capable of doing great things. It was intentionally designed to give students more ways to plug in, move forward, and crush your goals.

High school is a journey of self-discovery, but for some students at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, that journey includes navigating the rewards and challenges of parenthood. As a tuition-free public school through Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, Indy Met is designed to break down barriers to education. Perhaps no program embodies this mission more deeply than the Parent Life elective.

Walking down the halls of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, you can feel the energy of students working hard toward their futures. Every student has a unique story, and some have overcome challenges along the way. Brittany Yanasak, a teacher with sixteen years of experience, understands this deeply. Having spent four years at Indy Met as the Multilingual Learner Teacher of Record, she knows that sometimes students just need a place to let their imaginations run wild.

Each year, Goodwill employees are encouraged to share stories of individuals who have overcome significant barriers to achieve success. Through a formal nomination and selection process, candidates are narrowed down to the top three finalists in each category.Once the award winners are selected, a video production process begins to bring these remarkable stories of resilience to life.

For many students at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, a free public school for students in grades 9-12, the world often feels defined by the height of city buildings and the rhythm of busy streets. However, thanks to a special afterschool program called Reach for Nature, those horizons are expanding. As part of Goodwill Central and Southern Indiana and the Goodwill Legacy Group, this Indy Met program offers more than just a break from the classroom. It offers a bridge to a world of wonder that many urban youth rarely get to cross.

At just 14 years old, Brithney Isidore arrived in the United States from Chile with her mother and sister, stepping into a new country, culture and language. When she enrolled at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, she spoke little English, often relying on Google Translate just to get through class. “It was hard for me to go through classes and just communicate in general,” she shared. But even then, Brithney refused to settle.

Each May, Goodwill Education Initiatives celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month by honoring our educators whose dedication to service goes above and beyond, significantly impacting the lives of their students. 

Dim’Mya Norman was going into her freshman year of high school when a family member – and graduate of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School – encouraged her to enroll.