Hello everyone!
My name is Jake, and I'm an International Studies/Letters (Constitutional Studies) double major sophomore with minors in Social Justice and LGBTQ Studies. I'm from Kansas City (for more information about the best hometown in the world, check out my location post here). As you might be able to surmise from my field of study, I'm largely interested in public policy, especially as it affects queer-identifying people, and hope to become a civil rights attorney in order to litigate for the rights of queer people both domestically and abroad.
Outside of my professional and academic pursuits, I'm also largely involved on campus. I'm a Peer Educator for the Gender + Equality Center's Step In, Speak Out program (picture below taken from our first training, I'm the one standing),
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| Picture taken by the Director of the Gender + Equality Center at the 2016 Step In, Speak Out Training at OU, Source: Facebook |
as well as a Small Group Leader for Camp Crimson (my small group is shown below).
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| Picture taken by Camp Crimson Staff at OU's Camp Crimson 2016 (OKU Session) Source: Facebook |
I'm also actively involved in the Student Government Association, the Informed Citizens Discussion Group, the Honors College, and a number of other organizations on campus.
In addition to my extracurricular pursuits, I am also a classically trained vocalist/musical theater fanatic. Below is a picture of me from my Junior year of high school playing The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
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| Personal Photo of myself as The Phantom in Park Hill South's production of The Phantom of the Opera |
At OU, I also had the opportunity to participate in The Crimson Chords, OU's premier student-led, co-ed a Cappella group, which was a lot of fun. A video of our performance of Bastille's Pompeii at our mid-semester concert can be found below (that's me in the black cardigan).
Video of the Crimson Chords performing at Gray Owl as recorded by a member's father
Source: Facebook
Unfortunately, due to conflicts with a job during this semester, I had to quit the organization, but I still try to sing when/where I can.
Finally, I'm a huge proponent of debate in high schools. I spend a good number of weekends volunteering to judge debate and speech events in the OK community, because I have such a passion and belief in the activities' ability to change lives like it changed mine. I'm considering becoming a speech and debate coach either immediately following undergrad or after I retire from being an attorney. Below is a picture of me at Dallas Nationals my Senior year of high school with two of my best friends.
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| Photo of my friends and I at Dallas Nationals taken by my coach Source: Facebook |
Anyways, that's about it for me! The gist of this introduction is that I'm passionate, outspoken, and can generally be found singing. Can't wait to spend the semester learning with all of you!
