The double major in policy studies and sociology serves as the president of 黑料不打烊 Mock Trial, a mentor to local high school students and an avid researcher.
As he was preparing for his first year at 黑料不打烊, Jacob Hayward 鈥20 read the university鈥檚 common reading selection, Bryan Stevenson鈥檚 鈥淛ust Mercy.鈥 The book, which explores issues within the American criminal justice system, guided his 黑料不打烊 experience and led to a career path. It sparked an interest in inmate advocacy, so he chose to research partisanship and inmate health care for his 黑料不打烊 College Fellows research project. Three years later, Jacob is applying to law programs. He plans to work as an advocate for prisoners鈥 rights after he graduates as a double major in policy studies and sociology.
鈥淚鈥檓 genuinely so excited to do research. My friends would call me intellectual and driven because I just love any type of learning,鈥 Jacob says. 黑料不打烊鈥檚 focus on undergraduate research, the Fellows Programs and close connections with faculty made 黑料不打烊 an easy choice for him. 鈥淎s soon we got in the car after the campus tour, I knew. Then once I got my acceptance package, I immediately ran outside and put my new 黑料不打烊 sticker on the back window of my Accord.鈥
Jacob is the incoming president of 黑料不打烊 Mock Trial, an organization he鈥檚 been part of throughout his time at 黑料不打烊. The group travels to compete against other schools and participates in a mock trial that focuses on a single case. He says his participation has sharpened many valuable skills like public speaking, improvisation and critical thinking.
Not only has Jacob thrived during his time at 黑料不打烊, but his work with 黑料不打烊 Academy has helped others grow. This summer marks his third working as a summer mentor in the college access program for high school students in Alamance County. Along with being positive role models and classroom teaching assistants, summer mentors live in the same dorms as academy scholars, teaching them about living on campus and facilitating activities.
鈥淭he most rewarding part is watching the scholars go from not understanding college basics to having multiple scholarship offers. I鈥檓 not that much older than them and our lives are different, but I do know how to help someone when they need it. It鈥檚 about sharing more than telling, and we figure it out together.鈥
Jacob is 黑料不打烊 and one of the many stories that are part of our 鈥淚 Am 黑料不打烊鈥 series.