Katey Woodruff, Special to The Denisonian–
Maintaining a campus job, a full class schedule, and an internship is no easy feat.
Sophomore Drew Jacobson is a first-year fellow, working on a double major in history and Greek and Roman studies with a minor in cinema, and holds an internship at a school down the Hill.
A first-year fellow is a job on campus in which a sophomore, junior, or senior student acts as a liaison between the advisors in advising circles, which most freshmen are a part of, and the freshmen in the circle. Their job is to remain open for communication and be an example of student life.
“The freshmen class has been amazing and has been treating me so well as a new leader,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson, who is from Mundelein, Illinois, learned about the job after being on the freshman student council under Andrew McNutt, who is the Assistant Director of First-Year Experience. McNutt approached him with the job idea. He was then chosen for Professor Rebecca Kennedy’s and Professor Max Goldman’s advising circle after being in some of their classes. Both professors work in the Classical Studies Department and jointly lead an advising circle.
“I can’t imagine Professor Goldman and I being able to run the advising circle without him,” Kennedy said. “We wouldn’t have that other voice that is important for first-year students to have.”
In anticipation of advising meetings, Jacobson works with the staff of Curtis Dining Hall to reserve space and sends out information to the students about meeting locations and times.
The job, which is one of only a few on campus that pays as a stipend rather than from the payroll, requires only one hour a week of physical work during the meetings and for Jacobson to remain available to the students in his circle to answer questions or be a reference for advice on student life.
“I was super anxious when I first started school, but he gave me a ton of helpful ways to make the transition easier,” said freshman Bree Larkin, an education major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. “He always either has the answers to my questions or tells me where I can find out if he doesn’t.”
While still maintaining the job, an internship at Granville’s Welsh Hills School, and a full week of classes, he participates in campus groups such as the History Club and club sports.
“He has his hands in a lot of different areas on campus, so he has knowledge that we don’t,” Kennedy said.
Jacobson is planning and saving money to lead an excavation in Northern Rome for four weeks next summer through the Summer Scholar program. Post-graduation, he plans to teach history at the high school level, sharing his love and expertise of the subject. He views working as a sort of mentor with freshmen as a way to practice those efforts.
“Anybody who is interested in doing that and willing to do that, you should nurture that love and model for them ways to interact with students,” Kennedy said.
Jacobson was also an orientation trip leader during the first week of freshmen orientation, leading “Denison by Design,” a trip to downtown Columbus and various career workshops, hosted by the Red Frame Lab.
“It’s really nice to have someone who is confident and outgoing but also very accessible to students with a wide range of knowledge,” Kennedy said.
The job of a first-year fellow is to welcome freshmen to campus, provide advice and support for them as they transition into college campus life, and facilitate easy communication between advisors and students.
“My advice is don’t overwork yourself,” Jacobson said. “Make sure you aren’t overwhelming yourself.”