Interview with Jackson Morrice – Davidson College

Interview with Jackson Morrice – Davidson College

Interviewer: Well welcome Jackson. It’s amazing to have you joining from Davidson College.

Did I read correctly that you’re a triple major or was that a typo on LinkedIn?

Jackson: Not a triple major but my major is political science philosophy and economics- I just take a little bit of each and combine it into one big major.

Interviewer: Gotcha – that was immediately the first question I had when I saw your LinkedIn, I was like, ‘How do you fit all these things in?’ So lots of interests for you. Political science, econ, philosophy, and then a minor in communications.

Interviewer: Well, I think the audience is going to be really curious how you ended up at Davidson so I’d just love to start there and learn about your process for choosing that school and how you ended up there.

Jackson: Yeah, a lot of people ask me that question because actually I’m from Hawaii; I lived in Hawaii for about nine years before I came to Davidson, and it’s not a logical leap to go to North Carolina from Hawaii, but one thing I was looking for in a college was something small. I also wanted to do liberal arts because I did have an interest in poli sci when graduating from high school but I didn’t want to lock myself into one area. It’s actually the reason why I chose PPE as my major and Davidson is a small, close-knit community in a beautiful town near a city with a lake. I also have family nearby in Pennsylvania and Virginia and I actually used to go to summer camp in Black Mountain of North Carolina so there’s a lot more to it than that but those were ultimately the biggest things that had me choosing Davidson out of other colleges.

Interviewer: Those are all good reasons, so things that students typically touch on are location, size, the feel of the community,

How close what was the name of that mountain you said? How close is that to campus?

Jackson: I would say maybe two hours away.

Interviewer: Okay so not super close but another option if students make a day trip. It sounds like there were some big factors in that list that helped you make that decision. And with such a big jump from Hawaii to North Carolina, it must have been a big transition. Did you look at a lot of other schools coming out of high school?

Jackson: Yeah so during spring break I think in my junior year of high school I had actually gotten a stipend from another school to go visit them but I decided to take that stipend and fly up all the way to Maine, rent a car and then drive down the East Coast visiting all The schools that I had gotten into. I think Davidson College was actually the last stop on my list. And one thing coming from Hawaii, and going up North in March, it was so cold. My mom would actually leave campus tours because it was just too cold for her. She would wait in the car while I walked around. You were also talking about the feeling of community. I think that was one of the biggest things that drew me to Davidson. I had talked to people online; Davidson has a program online where you can talk to current students, and there was somebody from Hawaii that I talked to. I can talk about this later but I joined Phi Gamma Delta on campus, and he became my “big” in the organization and I met him even before I went to Davidson. I think meeting with different professors and students, everyone came off as really genuine. And I visited other colleges and some of them felt a bit more cold, so Davidson really just felt like the school for me. And I think people looking at Davidson, will get that same feeling, and you may not always know exactly why but it was a culmination of all those things out of all the options for why I wanted to choose Davidson.

Interviewer: Yeah, that’s really thorough. I think certain things come to mind. In high school I was supposed to visit Lafayette and not to knock any specific school, but there was something about the area when we were driving around the town and I just really couldn’t see myself there. And I think that was enough of a reason. So we did a quick U-turn and to a beach somewhere to hang out. It was just my dad and I. Everyone looking at college will have those experiences and it sounds like you were able to turn it into a road trip of to see a lot of different schools. So we’ll talk about all the things that you’re studying and then things like professional exploration and what you’re hoping to do in the future, goals wise. But while we’re talking about community at Davidson, it’s something I picked up on really quickly when I got to campus and working with their admin team, they seem to know all the students on campus, kind of that small feel you’re talking about.

So what’s it like living there and being a student? What’s the community like when you’re going to school in a place like that?

Jackson: I personally like it a lot. I think like 95% of Davidson students, maybe higher, live on campus. So I’m going from like freshmen to sophomore to junior to senior living on campus, and it has still changed my experiences. Some people want a bigger school that has the option of distancing yourself from people where you’re not recognizing most faces when you walk around campus. But I really like knowing the people on campus and in the community. I like walking out of my apartment maybe 15 minutes before class because I am so close. I like waving to 10 people as I walk around or giving a close friend a hug while we joke around between commitments. Like, yeah, that’s awesome. I feel like those are the experiences at Davidson. Like those mornings are something that I’ll always remember. Another thing about Davidson is that like, there’s no like definitive click or group. Davidson has like a very strict rule about organizations, for instance, eating houses, which is like our version of sororities and fraternities aren’t allowed to live in houses off or on campus together. So everybody’s spread out everywhere. It makes it really easy to make friends with people who are in fraternities and on sports teams and in different academic years, because you might be living in the same hall or area. I like the diverse blend and getting to see everybody each morning as I walk in and out of class.

Interviewer: Yeah. So there are different ways to access these students and they’re involved in multiple clubs or classes together, whether again, like you said, they play a sport or they live on or off campus.

Last question about the area, what’s the best place to hang out on campus and what’s the best place off campus?

Jackson: I think on campus, I really like Davidson’s Hub, which is the business center. When I study like a little bit of like hustle and bustle, but it’s not too noisy because there’s actual people from the Davidson community, like the town of Davidson, working there to make a living outside of just students. They also sometimes give out free snacks and they have like a coffee station that you can use your dining dollars, to get different drinks and food there. And they have personalized study rooms. So I love it there. Outside of campus. Ooh, I don’t go there too often, but when I do, I love it. And it might be a common answer. Davidson’s lake campus on Lake Norman, they have hammocks out, they have different paddle boats. They have a little sandbar that you can lay on. So if you want to get into the water on a hot, sunny day, it’s perfect for that. Or if you just want to go sit and study in the warm weather, it’s also perfect for that.

Interviewer: Oh, that’s cool. I know like Norman’s a huge draw for students.

Jackson: Yeah. It’s about a 10-minute drive away.

Interviewer: Okay, cool. So yeah. And again, you just take advantage of the weather down there. That was a small mistake that I think I made. I went to school in Rochester, New York, and ended up loving it. It was amazing, but it’s the same weather as I have in Vermont and it just gets dark and cold for a good portion of the school year. So having access to a lake all year right near campus is great. Next I’d love to kind of get into the academic side of your experience.

And you mentioned all these different interests. I know we touched on  political science as a main focus in some ways. And then I think I saw a little note about a career in marketing in the future, but, what are you studying now? And remind me, what year are you in?

Jackson: So I’m a senior this year, I’m about to leave school and join the workforce which is a little scary. But like we covered, my major is political science, philosophy, and economics, and I actually self-designed that major when I declared it with Davidson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. So that’s another nice thing about Davidson. If you want to take a major and they don’t offer it there, you can self-design it and get it approved, and then I have a minor in communications. And I’ve really enjoyed all my studies so far. I thought I was only going to want to do political science when going to Davidson, but after taking the research methods class for political science, which has us work with data and numbers, I realized I wanted to broaden my horizons and that I hadn’t tried everything I wanted to. And one of the things I regretted about my freshman year is that I didn’t try more classes before I started locking myself into my predicted major of political science. As I said before about the liberal arts schools, I wanted to try more things but I also felt like I wanted to hit the ground running when I got to college as a freshman and I wanted to prove myself. I wish I spent more time earlier exploring different options. So I decided to take the classes that I already had for political science and apply them to a PPE self-designed major. And I haven’t regretted it at all. In addition, I took a marketing internship at a bank in Hawaii. And that’s where I think I want to go in my future because I love storytelling. So as I graduate, I haven’t gotten a job yet and I am currently in that process.

Interviewer: Yeah. Hopefully good things to come. It can be a long process so really hoping you land something soon. So more so than many students I have spoken with, you have explored several academic concentrations in this major you designed and you established marketing as an interest and you’ve got a nice experience through an internship to kind of get your feet wet and learn some skills associated with marketing. Obviously, what you’re studying is very relevant.

When did the job hunt process start for you?

Jackson: So one of the things I regret throughout my undergrad experience is that I wish I went for an internship in my freshman summer. Instead I decided to work two jobs in Hawaii and stay with my family and be with my friends. I did really enjoy that summer and I think it was, it gave me a lot of personal growth. I was working in a kitchen at a pancake house in Hawaii and then working another job at a boba tea store. It definitely improved my work ethic and my communication skills. But I think one of the best ways to get a job personally is when somebody offers it to you instead of you having to apply and that happens by making connections, reaching out to alumni, getting into internships that like you’re very interested in and a place you’re potentially interested in. All of that could potentially help you in the future without you ever realizing it in the moment. I wish I had reached out to a lot more alumni sooner. I’ve started the job hunt since this past summer. But an issue I commonly run into is that, one marketing jobs aren’t posted until mostly in the spring and two, when you hit senior year internship opportunities dry up a bit because from what I have seen, most internship programs want rising juniors or seniors. And then three, a lot of jobs that are posted are looking to hire immediately so even if you are a qualified candidate and they want you to join their team, they cannot wait for the next three months until you might be able to join after you graduate. So that’s been a long cycle for me. But to boost up my resume and to develop more connections, and develop more skills, I’m actually taking a class at Davidson called XBL. It allows you to substitute an internship as a class. You get an internship and a course credit for allowing me to not have to take another class and still graduate on time while getting that experience. There’s one class per week, and then you have to go 10 hours per week to work at the internship. I’ve really been enjoying that but a lot is still up in the air.

Interviewer: Yeah, definitely. Well, obviously I am pulling for you and we want that job offer at the right time, like you’re saying.

Beyond the internship class and resume workshops, are there other resources at Davidson to prep for graduation and joining the workforce?

Jackson: Yes. I’ve used Davidson’s career center a lot. I think one of the most helpful resources that they have given me is access to like different programs that allow you to connect with alumni and like search up different alumni in your field and to reach out to them. They have a group on LinkedIn called Davidson Alumni. And if you join that group, it allows you to send free messages, to anybody who’s part of that group, which has been amazing to reach out to people. And then two, there’s something called, I think, Davidson Connect, which is a personalized app that either as a student or an alumni, you can join where it’s meant to just connect people in different industries, or people interested in your industry to talk and have phone calls. And I’ve used that a lot in my junior and senior year, and that’s led to great conversations with people.

Interviewer: Yeah, that’s great. So there are multiple ways to kind of go about that and access and go to events and use resources. And I think the ability to access alumni is super important for meeting helpful people.

Are you targeting certain areas or locations for your first job?

Jackson: Yeah I’m looking to go to like Washington, DC, New York, or stay in North Carolina, somewhere in those areas. A big thing influencing my decision is the ability to travel without a car within the city. Some cities are just not built for public transportation, but DC and New York are places that I can go without a car and potentially get into work conveniently. And another thing is that I’m currently in a relationship. So I’m trying to stay somewhat near to my partner, but not too far.

Interviewer: And that can be a huge benefit when you’re moving to new places, you already have someone to share the new experience with and it can be really fun. So kind of back to some of the undergrad experience, you mentioned wishing you had done another internship.

Are there other skills, coming from the majors, that you think have been most beneficial for preparing for the workforce?

Jackson: Ooh. Well, I think this kind of goes along with Davidson being a liberal arts school, but critical thinking skills. Like there are a lot of hard skills in marketing and there are a lot of hard skills in other majors. But in terms of like interviewing, meeting people, any internship and in marketing too, if a problem is thrown your way, being able to assess it, lay out action plans, and try to address it in a unique way or based on things you’ve learned in the past is always going to benefit you. And since I’ve done so many classes in so many different disciplines and met so many different people with so many different backgrounds, I don’t think I’ve been locked into one way of viewing a problem or thinking. And I think that’s one of my greatest strengths leaving Davidson.

Interviewer: That’s great perspective and it will suit you well in so many roles.

Are there certain companies or are there different industries that you would explore as well?

Jackson: Yeah. I’ve left my options open to potentially maybe wanting to go into sales or consulting, but like public relations too might be very interesting for me. A lot of those are include the communicative aspect which I like. I know marketing can be from behind a desk, but I like either the storytelling aspect of it or being able to communicate either with a team or outside. Marketing is kind of more of the direction. And I think in senior year applying to jobs and trying to get out, you need to have a direction. I feel like I could pivot and most people do pivot when they leave college too.

Interviewer: Yeah, I mean, you just get exposed to so many things and since marketing, I mean anything in business or anything marketing can be so broad.

Is there any additional training you’ve done as far as presentation design and delivery or digital media communications?

Jackson: So right now I’m doing an internship in digital communications in Charlotte at a company that I actually got the internship at because an alumnus is on their leadership staff and I met with them over the summer. A lot of that is like AP writing, making sure that it’s like very easy to read, making sure information is presented in a reliable digestible way. And I’m trying to come up with compelling images that will draw the most attention. I’m really focusing on this in this internship and others. It’s been about presenting yourself, sales being a big thing. Knowing when to take a breath and step away from the conversation. If it’s like heated or intense or if you need to assess an offer, it’s okay. You don’t need to give an answer right away. Things along those lines.

Interviewer: Yeah, no, that’s great. And again, another reason I ask, because I think it, it dives into exactly what you’re exploring, which I think is super important. So just for the sake of time, we’re going to hit kind of the end here in a minute, but I just want to get to the the final question, my favorite one to end on.

What is your best advice for just making the most of undergrad?

Jackson: As I really think on it, I’ll give the same message of wanting to get into college and like really hit the ground running. That’s like most people’s instinct. I think focusing too heavily on grades can be something to avoid. It can be detrimental to your experience at college, because though they might be important in your first steps outside of college, they ultimately won’t follow you for that long in your career. And having a good grade in a class doesn’t always reflect like good learning. People get A’s all the time, but if you go back to them within a month, they could have forgotten everything they learned in the class. And I think being happy in what you’re learning in a class versus the grade that you get and also not putting all of your effort into just getting that grade and spending that time with friends and maybe different clubs. I think being happy in what you’re learning in different activities on campus is the best way to enjoy your college experience, because ultimately college just isn’t about the grade. Like, by itself. There’s so many other important things to college.

Interviewer: Yeah, I think that’s great advice. And again, something to pay attention to, but don’t let it like make you cancel plans or all the other things that you should be doing as a college student. So, I think that’s really good. Thank you very much for your time, Jackson. What a wonderful conversation, I can’t wait to post it.