Adam Jackson
Major : Criminal Justice
High School : Northeast High School
Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Activities : Black Student Union, Mission & Ministry, Resident Assistant
“One of my main goals in life is finding the truth and justice in things. That’s how I am,” says Adam Jackson, a Neumann College undergrad who dreams of becoming an FBI agent someday. He believes criminal justice is “the perfect major” for him and that Neumann College is “the perfect place” to earn his degree.
During the college selection process, Adam says he knew he wanted to attend a college where he could be “more than just an ID number.” In fact, he continues, “I wanted the teachers to know me, and I wanted to know them as well.”
Neumann’s small class size, strong support system, caring atmosphere, and hands-on approach to students make him feel as if he’s part of an extended family. “It’s a good feeling to know that the head of the school knows you by name.”
Adam suspects growing up in Philadelphia where he was exposed to the positives and negatives of a big city was a primary motivation for his career choice. “As a child living in a rough section of North Philadelphia, I matured quickly because I was exposed to a vast amount of things other kids didn’t have to witness,” he says. Adam also finds motivation in his family, especially his brother, a Philadelphia police officer. “He’s a person who has followed his dreams; and because of that, he’s become one of the best police officers in the Philadelphia region,” he states with pride.
The first in his family to attend college, Adam says his parents encouraged him to get a degree. Although it was difficult to be the first to leave home, he believes making the leap to a college resident has boosted his self-confidence. He says, “It makes me feel good to be independent and prove to myself that I can succeed. I needed a brand new start from high school and a challenge to show everybody that I can achieve in a different situation.”
To help him meet college challenges, he always sets goals. “Once I achieve them, I try to set the bar higher,” he declares. And achieve Adam has. His grades have placed him on the Vice President’s list multiple times. He has also earned an award for after school tutoring in a French program, and an award for academic excellence from Neumann’s ACT 101 program.
One of the characteristics that Adam especially appreciates is the College’s open-mindedness. “There are few schools that listen and really hear what students are saying,” he states. He attributes the College’s willingness to change and accommodate students’ wishes, for things like new activities and clubs, to its youth in comparison to other colleges, and to its deep Franciscan mission and character. He also appreciates the sense of “good will” people have towards one another. “It makes you feel as if people share a good value system.”
“Neumann provides so much opportunity for you to succeed,” he reflects. “If you need help, there’s always an advisor to guide and encourage you in exploring your interests and your future.”
