Kenneth Jacksack

Kenneth Jacksack is a transfer economics major from Libertyville, IL

Hometown: Libertyville, IL

Class of: 2024

Transfer from: College of Lake County

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
Choosing to attend Northern Illinois University was a decision influenced by a variety of factors, both personal and academic. NIU holds a special place in my family history. Both of my parents attended law school here, which has always made NIU important to me.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my parents, who are both attorneys. Their dedication to their profession and the impact they made in their field inspired me to aspire to become an attorney myself. However, I discovered a new passion: economics. The study of economics opened up a new world for me. It was not just about numbers and graphs, but about understanding the complexities of the world we live in. It offered me a unique lens to view and analyze societal issues, business trends and global affairs. The more I delved into economics, the more I found it rewarding and intellectually stimulating. It challenged me to think critically, to question assumptions and to understand the underlying mechanisms that drive economic behavior. Later on, this newfound interest led me to explore the field of investment banking. Investment banking appealed to me because it combines the analytical aspects of economics with practical, real-world applications. It offers the opportunity to work on complex financial transactions, strategic decision-making and to have a real impact on the economy. So, while I initially wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps and pursue a career in law, my academic journey led me down a different path. Today, I am excited about the prospect of a career in investment banking, where I can apply my passion for economics and make a meaningful impact in the financial world. I believe this path aligns well with my interests and strengths, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges it will bring.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in economics. My decision to pursue this field of study was influenced by a combination of personal interest and academic discovery. Growing up, I was always intrigued by small economies and the principles that govern economic behavior. I often wondered: Why do some people buy from Starbucks more than family-owned coffee shops? Why do people keep purchasing overpriced collector items? Why do people keep getting wrapped up in consumerism? On this note, I found it fascinating how economics blends aspects of both science and art to explain how individuals, businesses and governments allocate resources. As I delved deeper into the subject, I found that economics provides a framework for understanding the world. It offers insights into everything from personal finance and business strategy to public policy and international trade. Moreover, studying economics has helped me develop a range of valuable skills, including analytical thinking, problem-solving and data interpretation. These skills are applicable in a wide variety of careers, and they also help in making informed decisions in everyday life. Over time, my interest in economics evolved into a passion, leading me to choose it as my major. I believe that an economics degree will provide me with a strong foundation and flexibility to pursue a variety of career paths in the future, including my current interest in investment banking. I look forward to further exploring this field and applying the knowledge and skills I acquire to make a positive impact in my future career.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
I'm currently working on a research project titled "Digital Maturity and Its Impact on Restaurant Performance." The aim of this research is to explore how achieving digital maturity can provide a competitive advantage for restaurants. The concept of digital maturity is fascinating to me. It's about how well a firm or industry is able to leverage digital technologies to achieve its goals. In the context of the restaurant industry, this could mean everything from online ordering systems and digital marketing to data analytics for menu optimization and customer relationship management. This research is not just about understanding the theory behind digital maturity, but also about applying it to real-world scenarios in the restaurant industry. By using a data-driven approach, I aim to validate the theoretical framework and answer my research question. This project is a blend of my interest in economics, digital technologies and the restaurant industry. It's an opportunity to explore how these areas intersect and how digital maturity can be leveraged for competitive advantage. I'm excited about the potential insights this research could provide and the impact it could have on the restaurant industry.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
Conducting research at NIU has improved my educational experience and provided me with valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom. Firstly, it has deepened my understanding of my major, economics. Through my research, I've been able to apply theoretical concepts and strategies learned in class to real-world scenarios, such as applying a simple linear regression model using R-Studio (learned in econometrics). This has not only reinforced my knowledge but also sparked new insights and perspectives. Secondly, research has honed my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It has challenged me to question assumptions, interpret complex data and draw informed conclusions. Also, conducting research has taught me the importance of perseverance and intellectual curiosity. It involves a lot of trial and error, meaning having patience and resilience every day. This research opportunity has also allowed me to work closely with faculty members, providing me with an incredibly rewarding mentorship experience. If I have a question, I simply go to the economics department in Zulauf Hall and ask which professors are in. Overall, it’s given me a glimpse into the world of academic research and the chance to contribute to the body of knowledge in my field.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
The skills I've developed through this research, such as applied data analysis, critical thinking and problem-solving, are highly sought after in many fields, including my area of interest (investment banking). Understanding how to leverage digital technologies for business performance could also give me a competitive edge in the job market. Later down the road if I decide to pursue further education, such as a master's or Ph.D., having a strong research background will be quite valuable; because it’s not just about the ability to conduct research, but also about understanding the research process, formulating research questions and interpreting results. These are things I learned the hard way. Research is fundamentally about solving problems. The experience of tackling complex questions about digital maturity and restaurant performance has given me confidence in my ability to approach problems systematically and, in some respects, think creatively. Fundamentally, these skills will be useful in future work and simple life situations. I would also argue that presenting research findings requires clear and effective communication. I've learned how to explain complex concepts understandably, tailor my message to my audiences and defend my ideas. For example, explaining my research to faculty is different than explaining to peers, which is also different from explaining to people outside of economics. Theoretically, these are all skills that will help me in future presentations, meetings and negotiations. Finally, this has taught me that there's always more to know and that asking the right questions is often as important as finding the right answers. I’ve gotten help with my research from people from all over, not only from faculty but from my bosses at NIU dining, and professionals on LinkedIn.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
Several individuals at NIU have been great resources in my research journey and success. My bosses at Campus Dining Services have been incredibly supportive. They've not only provided me with a flexible work schedule that allows me to balance my job and research commitments, but they've also shown a genuine interest in my project. Their encouragement and understanding have motivated me, and they have also helped me to brainstorm my project further. One day I got together with two of my managers, our manager assistant and the director of retail dining and came up with a list of independent variables to be controlled for in my economic model. Obviously, the faculty in the economics department have also played a big role in guiding my research. Their expertise and insights have given me ideas and helped my understanding of applying economic concepts and methodologies. My peers in both the marketing and economics departments have been an important part of my research journey. Collaborating with them has provided me with different perspectives, feedback and encouragement.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?

• Start early: Don't wait until your final years to get involved in research. The earlier you start, the more experience you'll gain and the more opportunities you'll have to explore different areas of interest.
• Find your interest: Research is most rewarding when you're passionate about the topic. Spend some time exploring different fields and topics to find something that truly interests you. Whatever you do, don’t commit to research that is not interesting to you (it will lead to failure).
• Seek out mentors: Professors and other faculty members are literally paid to act as resources. Reach out to them for guidance, whether it's about your research project or your academic journey in general. Again, they often get paid a great sum of money only to sit around their office bored. They want to help. It’s their job, and it’s your responsibility to take advantage of this.
• Collaborate with peers: Research isn't a solitary activity. If it was, no one would do it. In fact, most research is based on previous research and a mix of other people’s ideas.
• Leverage available resources: NIU has numerous resources to support student research: libraries, databases, workshops and sometimes even funding opportunities.
• Be patient and persistent: Research involves trial and error. Persistence and resilience are key in research. It may mean staying up late and waking up early to get things done or even prioritizing it over other activities. It is an expensive investment (for college students) depending on the type of research.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
What has pleasantly surprised me about my experience at NIU is the involvement and leadership opportunities available to students, even outside of study. For instance, it is incredibly easy to build a community at NIU. My first semester here I tried it out, not knowing exactly what I was doing, and ended up founding a club, the Circus Skills Enthusiasts Club. It’s been quite the journey, and I didn't think that formulating a club constitution and getting it officially recognized by the university would lead to much, but it turned out to be such a rewarding experience. Later on, I joined the Economics Student Association as a board member, expecting it to be a platform for economic discussions and learning. I was pleasantly surprised when I found how easy it was to get more involved. Me and a few friends ended up overhauling regular meetings and restructuring student roles, leading to a reformatted association. I was not expecting so many students to take a genuine interest in the association (showing up to meetings on a routine basis and sparking real discussion), and I especially did not expect the economic student community to be so engaged in the process. Similarly, my fellowship with the Braven Accelerator was initially just a professional development course. But it turned into a way to meet people professionally and truly feel connected as I complete my final semester at NIU. Lastly, during my time at NIU as a member of the Philosophy Club, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of students share like-minded ideas with me. I’ve never had the chance to meet such people before attending NIU and being part of the Philosophy Club has given me a way to slow down and share ideas that we typically don’t have time for in a regular conversation. I suppose the main point is that I was surprised to find that students are generally kind people and building community is far easier than it may sound on paper.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I've found several ways to connect with other students: I like forming study groups for classes because it’s proven to be a great way to socialize while getting things done. At the start of each semester, I email every student in my class and inquire if they would be interested in starting a study group. From there we set a date and time and we get our work done. I do this mainly because I find it lonely to study alone. Attending university events, social gatherings and club meetings are also good ways to meet new people. For example, the Campus Activity Board hosts events every once in a while, like the Night at Holmes, which to me are super fun. I text a few friends to see if they would be interested in going, and even after we show up to these sorts of events, I end up meeting at least a handful of new friends. Connecting with other students has also become easy with all the digital apps. I use Huskie Hub, Instagram, LinkedIn or Snapchat’s “2024 graduation” story, which is exclusive to NIU student seniors. I use social media a lot, it’s simply easy and convenient to meet lots of new people.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I suppose I already mentioned most of the mentoring programs I am part of, but I will provide a list here as well as a short description:

• Economics Student Association: As a board member, I’ve had the opportunity to overhaul regular meetings and restructure student roles, leading to improved organizational efficiency. We also organized the 2024 ECONference, enhancing community engagement.
• Braven Accelerator: As a fellow, I’ve enhanced my leadership and teamwork skills through a comprehensive 14-week professional development course with a strong emphasis on fellowship and mentorship.
• Circus Skills Enthusiasts Club: As a co-founder, I formulated the club constitution and collaborated within a team to program club activities, fostering community engagement.
• Philosophy Club: As a member, I facilitated interdisciplinary discussions merging philosophy and economics, fostering critical thinking within the club.
• Northern Star: As a volunteer opinion columnist, I’ve had the opportunity to express my thoughts and engage with the NIU community.
• Student Admission Days: I plan to start as a volunteer group leader next week, which will allow me to guide and assist prospective students.
• Huskie Closet promotion : As a project manager, I’m working on enhancing the organization’s operations and outreach.
• I’m also a fellow of the Rising Scholars program at NIU. This program is associated with National Fellowship Advising and has provided me with further opportunities to engage in academic exploration and leadership.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The academic advisors at NIU have been helpful in planning my course of study, understanding degree requirements and making informed decisions about my academic journey (such as choosing the correct classes). This department is perhaps my favorite, as it has provided information for career exploration, resume building, interview preparation and job-search strategies. Their workshops and one-on-one counseling sessions have been particularly helpful. So far, I’ve gone to every event I’ve come across, including their LinkedIn review and resume help sessions. Counseling and Consultation Services has been helpful in providing support for my mental health and well-being. There was one semester where I was in a particularly dark space, and they were able to direct me to appropriate resources. The libraries at NIU have been super useful for my group work because they offer rooms I’ve been able to reserve and get together with friends, so we have a space to get work done. They also have great databases that have been useful in doing economic research.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
I'm not exactly sure if I am allowed to include names because I would like to be considerate of their privacy. I will say that my econometrics professor did a phenomenal job in communicating the course information effectively. Obviously, econometrics is not an easy class, so it was important to get the concepts down. Another great professor was my NNGO teacher; she did an excellent job teaching skills that are applicable. Sometimes teachers get wrapped up in the academic culture and are distant from how the real world works; they focus on theory or get tunnel vision on their study, or they are outright pretentious. Not this teacher. She taught networking skills, how NGO's work, how to build them and how to program. I certainly plan on using her ideas throughout my life.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
It's no secret that attending class helps you understand course material, and that certainly has been the case for me. Classes also, in a way, simulate a real job. You need to show up to work just as you need to show up to class. You need to complete homework just as you would need to complete work tasks. Showing up to class also helps build better relationships with faculty, simply because they see you and get the opportunity to learn about you. Showing up to class builds discipline and time management skills. Personally, if I never showed up to my classes, I likely would not have the same work ethic I do today. Showing up to class has also helped me when I have questions. It's pretty difficult to have a real conversation over email, which is partly why it's good to show up to class. Many of my classes also have "active learning," which may involve discussions, group projects or interactive activities. These are opportunities to get information I simply couldn’t get outside of class. Some things are learned by doing, and being in class offers those types of opportunities.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I find DuSable Hall at night to be one of my favorite spots on campus. There is something kind of eerie but peaceful about empty buildings that I’m drawn to. After around 5 p.m., the only people who use the building are club meetings (in the basement) and sometimes an evening class. Other than that, there is a quiet atmosphere that makes it a perfect place for reflection or study sessions.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Understand what you're looking for in a college. It could be a specific academic program, extracurricular activities, campus culture, location, size, etc. Make sure the colleges you're considering are accredited. Look at the tuition and other costs associated with each college. Consider your own financial situation and look into scholarships, grants and financial aid opportunities. Visit the campuses of the colleges you're interested in to get a feel for the campus culture, facilities and community. Talk to current students. At the end of the day, they are the ones who will give the most honest and direct advice. Make sure you know what sort of job you want after school. If you want to end up working for the military, NIU is a great pick. If you want a job at Goldman Sachs, Harvard would be a better pick. Look for what companies hire from each school. At the end of the day, choosing a college is a personal decision, and advice can only get you so far. Don’t let someone make that sort of decision for you.

Why is a college education important to you?
To me education is important because it is proof of integrity; it's easier for me to trust someone who has a degree. Education shows humility and willingness to set aside emotions in order to learn. It suggests exposure to modern-day developments in science and technology. What I mean by this is that there is certain information that takes years to understand. Some information takes multiple prerequisites. I would not be able to understand econometrics if I couldn't understand statistics, and I would not be able to understand statistics if I didn't understand math. On that note, education is also important because it can (sometimes) show a level of competency. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, you unlock that field because you know how it functions. College education is also important to me because it's like a precursor to proper adult life. I began college at 15, and I certainly would not have had the skills necessary to live on my own without gaining my Associate of Arts. I suppose I could go on for a long time, but the main point is that college shows grit and integrity. It's a badge of respect for many and an experience that can only be had once.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I use an Excel spreadsheet to organize my time. I use Obsidian (a note-taking app) to keep track of the hundreds of people I'm connected to. That way I never forget to lose touch with the friends I've made. Managing time is a skill grounded in confrontation. In order to balance time commitments, I will let professors know if they are overloading assignments, I will tell friends I cannot meet because of commitments and I will request time off of work if I have places to be. My main strategy is to remember that time is a resource everyone wants from me; it is like money in that it should be spent on investments that depreciate in value. The best way to manage time is to not waste it and use it where it pays off.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I check my email often. Usually if there is a notable event I am informed. Otherwise I will check NIU's calendar. I have a copy downloaded as a Google calendar. I also keep track of events from various departments’ Instagram or social media postings. I'm also deeply connected to the NIU community, so if there is an important event coming up someone will generally let me know/invite me. In terms of services, departments usually have information tables at events, which I sometimes ask about.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Doing little projects like writing for the Huskie Spotlight is one way I like to relax. Otherwise, I like talking to people. If I'm not in a social setting I enjoy getting to know people on LinkedIn. After a long day, another great way to recharge is going out for dinner with friends. Like most people, I live a busy life, and that is how I like it. Though also like most people, I find that sleep is a great way to recharge.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
At present, I am employed at Stevenson Retail Dining. My role involves a wide array of responsibilities that span from customer service to maintaining the quality of food and beverages. Great bosses. Great environment. As for my personal interests, I have a deep appreciation for music. I find joy in composing and sharing my music projects on my YouTube channel. This is deeply rooted in my extensive background in the field. I’ve had the privilege of receiving over a decade of classical training in music theory and piano performance. I don't mean this as a boast, but rather a way of communicating how much I've committed and my passion for this art form.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
NIU played a big part of the type of person I am today, and I don't mean that lightly. I never went to a high school or middle school. Instead, I've primarily learned on my own. While legally speaking, I was "homeschooled," the extent of this was me teaching myself. After I turned 15, I started going to my community college. I got my associate degree, but I never felt at home. My classmates were either in their mid-20s or 30s; most of my peers were returning to school after decades in the workforce. I was socially underdeveloped, and with my parents being separated, my life was simply complicated. However, after moving to DeKalb and seeing people my own age, my life turned around. Having my own dorm gave me a lot of mental stability, and the resources at NIU have given me the chance to catch up in life. It's bittersweet to graduate now, though I know I already have all the skills and connections necessary to succeed in life. A lot of people have put me down because of my age, condescending even, but it makes me proud nonetheless to receive my B.S. from NIU at 19.