Jackson Adams

Jackson Adams is a transfer mathematical sciences major from Elgin, IL

Hometown: Elgin, IL

High School: South Elgin High School

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2026

Minor: Japanese studies

Transfer from: Elgin Community College

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
The campus is close enough to my house to commute, and it’s affordable.

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received the Ari and Ruth Kovacevich Distinguished Scholarship Fund (due to being part of the University Honors Program), the fall 2025 Gail Masters Gallagher Memorial Scholarship (due to majoring in mathematical sciences and academic achievement) and the fall 2024 Joseph C. and Marion E. Huber Memorial Scholarship (due to majoring in mathematical sciences and my grandfather's background of living in a rural town). These scholarships made my NIU experience far less stressful than it otherwise would have been. A lot of my tuition was not covered by FAFSA, so if I did not have these scholarships, I would have to work much more to cover my expenses at the cost of academic performance. I am deeply grateful to those who made these scholarships possible.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a scientist. At first I had no idea what that would look like as a profession, but I knew that whatever path I chose, I would keep learning for my whole life. By early middle school I narrowed down my ideal career field to math or engineering, and ultimately I knew by high school that I would choose theoretical mathematics as my major. My major, then, is very much something I have loved for my entire life.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is mathematical sciences, and I am pursuing a minor in Japanese studies. I decided from childhood that I wanted my career to involve math and have stuck with it since. As for Japanese, I find the grammar and writing systems to be fascinating; in particular, I find writing kanji to be fun.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I found it surprising how many events were held at NIU, especially in comparison with the community college I transferred from. I also found it surprising how willing the teachers were to not only help me succeed, but also to help me pursue my personal learning goals outside of class.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
Originally, I met people through my friends from before transferring who also went to NIU. From that original group, I kept meeting more people, and we usually studied and talked at the Oasis in the Holmes Student Center. To find other students to study with, I usually end up talking to people in my classes who seem to have similar interests.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Disability Resource Center has helped me feel less anxious than I would have felt otherwise by providing me with beneficial accommodations. The Department of Mathematical Sciences has helped me feel successful by allowing me to test out of a class so I could learn at the rate I was comfortable with and reach my undergraduate academic goals.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Program opportunity that has helped me the most with reaching my academic goals was getting to meet with a professor weekly for an independent study for which I received honors credit. In particular, I was introduced to the topic of algebraic topology, a field I may decide to pursue in graduate school that has greatly increased my appreciation for mathematical proofs in general. Getting to work with a professor in this way makes it possible to get a strong letter of recommendation, something necessary to get into a competitive graduate program.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
Aside from getting to work with a professor, the things I enjoy most about the Honors Program are getting priority registration and partaking in the engaged experiences.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
My favorite professor has been Michael Geline, whose MATH 421 course I took in spring 2025. Professor Geline not only introduced me to one of my favorite fields of math, but he also helped me figure out how to digest mathematical text much better than I previously could.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I strive to attend each of my classes every day, which has helped build my ethic toward academia as a whole. I feel like the classes I take are actually important, and as a result I try to do my best on assignments and tests. Attending class has also helped me combat procrastination.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the Oasis in the Holmes Student Center because it is where I meet with my friends when I do not have class. My second favorite spot is by the East Lagoon on the benches where I am able to better focus on reading.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would tell the student to consider the school’s affordability and the scholarships it offers, because if you cannot afford to go to the college without overworking yourself, your academic performance will suffer.

Why is a college education important to you?
I wish to continue learning for the rest of my life, and a college education just feels like the natural next step after high school. I believe that education in general is important for people to be able to think critically and lead moral lives.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I try to complete my schoolwork when I am on campus so that I can spend time with family when I am home. Since I spend a lot of time on campus every day, this leaves a decent chunk of time on campus to spend with friends as well, as long as I stay on top of my schoolwork.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I check my email every day to stay on top of things occurring on campus.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
To relax I like listening to music. I also like having a day out of the week reserved for relaxing, usually Saturday, so the following week I can go back to classes feeling recharged.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I work as a math tutor at Mathnasium, teaching math to grades K-12. I have been working at Mathnasium since the beginning of 2024, and it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I have been able to see firsthand when a student gains self-confidence and how it makes them light up. As for my hobbies, I like studying math and playing piano. Although I have not practiced piano enough to be great at it, I still find it very entertaining.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
Out of all my educational experiences, from elementary school to pursuing a bachelor's degree, NIU has been the most helpful in preparing me for the next step. When going from middle school to high school or from high school to college, I did not feel particularly prepared. Now, however, I feel as though I can thrive in graduate school due to the opportunities I have had at NIU.