Over the last year, I’ve had the honor of being best friends with Jackie Lamarre, a junior at UNT. This week I sat down with her so she could tell me more about her life, passions, and future plans.
Where did you grow up? I was born in America, but I grew up in Dubai because my dad worked for the military. It was a lot of fun, and I acquired a lot of skills I wouldn’t have been able to here in the states. I went to high school in the UAE, I made my first best friends there, and I honestly wouldn’t have had it any other way.
What do people find most surprising about you? I’m half-Korean, but I’m fluent in Arabic because of where I grew up. It always throws people for a loop!
What’s your biggest goal for the future? Well, right now I’m working toward a finance degree so I can have that steady job and income when I’m out of college. Of course I want a family, kids when I’m ready. I’m definitely going to get a dog, though, because dogs are the best.
What did you love most about your time overseas? My family and I traveled everywhere. I love to travel. Before I moved back to America, I would always travel to another country every year. It was crazy, learning about all the different cultures of the world and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime moments. I rode elephants in Thailand, I went to Korea…I wish being a world traveler was a full time, well-paying job!
Why did you choose UNT? After I graduated high school, I knew I would be coming back to the states for my bachelor’s degree. I wanted to be close to my family, and my older brother already attended UNT so it was an easy pick for me. My second choice was to go to A&M, but I feel like UNT has offered me a lot more flexibility than any other college would have, and I love it here. There’s always something going on in the library mall, and I absolutely love karaoke at the Syndicate.
If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why? A penguin. No, a panda. Pandas are my favorite, and they get to sleep a lot. I absolutely live for naps, so that seems like the right answer.