Jared Nicholas is a junior with senior credits from McLean, Illinois. He is a double major specializing in accounting and German.
Why did you choose SIU? I had never heard of SIU until my junior year of high school. My German teacher suggested it because of a German scholarship SIU offers. I visited the campus and really enjoyed its proximity to nature and semi-isolation from the rest of town. What really impressed me, though, was the attention and enthusiasm Marcus Odom, the Director of Accountancy at the time, and Jill Gebke, the Assistant Dean of the College of Business, showed for me as a potential student. They were the first people to prove to me why SIU prides itself in being a close community that cares about its students.
What inspired you to choose your area of study? Ultimately, I would like to become a corporate lawyer. I chose accounting to gain a broader business background before law school. I started German in high school and decided to continue with it. Learning German has not just taught me a language, but it’s broadened my world view as well as made me think more critically about language. In college, it provided me the opportunity to spend a wonderful semester abroad in Switzerland. I’d like to use German by working for an international German company, such as Haribo, Aldi, Siemens, or BMW.
What achievement in your life are you most proud of? Freshman year, my roommate, Alex Attebury, and I organized a trip with other business freshmen to Walt Disney World to participate in one of their youth education programs about leadership strategies. It was a long process, especially with fundraising, but it was a fun project and it was a great end to our first year of college.
Why should someone consider donating to the College of Liberal Arts? The College of Liberal Arts at SIU has some of the most dedicated and caring professors I have met, which leads to more dedicated and thoughtful graduates. Employers appreciate the skills the liberal arts teach, such as critical thinking, appreciation for other points of view, and the ability to discuss and debate ideas. The liberal arts provide a broader education, not just for liberal arts majors, but for other students, too.
Do you have a message you would like shared with a potential donor? I would like to tell that potential donor that their money could go to supporting important departments that are unfortunately often overlooked and underappreciated.
If you had $1,000 to donate to the College of Liberal Arts, what would you like to see that money benefit? I would like to see it go towards faculty professional development, including more intensive training for teaching assistants and new teachers, or any other way to maintain or even improve the college’s teaching quality.
You can support SIU College of Liberal Arts during SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 1: https://siuday.siu.edu/giving-day/1003/department/1380