Our HerCampus celebrity of the week is the illustrious, Jerry Jones. President of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. A dedicated senior, who intends on joining us for a few more years to do grad school for health care administration after he graduates in may or at least “that’s what [his] heart is telling [him]”. He’s not trying to just get out of here like many other seniors, he’s trying to get his degree so he can stay here! He’s personable, friendly, and obviously well dressed.
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Name: Jerry Jones
Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
Major: Chemistry
Year: 4th
Organizations: SGA, Alpha Phi Alpha
Her Campus: What organizations are you a part of?
Jerry Jones: Right now the biggest organization that I’m most proud of is Alpha Phi Alpha, of course. I’m also in student government association. I’m the college chair for the at-large college which pretty much represents any student. I was a part of the NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Councl), I was the president last semester. I did spend some time with the future pharmacist association, and a couple honor societies.
HC: How do you feel about being president of Alpha Phi Alpha?
JJ: Â Â I love it. When you join an organization like that, it’s most people’s ultimate goal. You just love it so much and it just becomes such a part of your identity. You’ll do whatever amount of work. President wasn’t even a big step for me; It was something I wanted to do. Coming in I didn’t know that I could be president of such an organization. But once you’re in the organization, once you are doing work, once you start growing as a leader it’s something that comes naturally.
HC: What’s it like being the president of such a big organization?
JJ: It’s a lot of pressure, I think that’s the big thing. I know as a general member you have people over you and if you have a problem, you have people who can solve it. But as president, if there’s a problem that is unsolved, you’re the last hope. It’s just you at the top. Other than that, you have to have a vision for where your organization is going. And you have to get people to buy into that vision, but I love the position it’s really rewarding.
HC: What do you like most about Georgia Southern?
JJ: I like how involved you can get a Georgia Southern, I’m not entirely sure how campus organizations go at other schools but Georgia Southern is like a small feel once you get involved with organizations. Once you get involved on campus, there is so much work to do. We have a large Statesboro community that needs student leaders, that needs people giving back. It’s a school where you can really make an impact and that’s what I love most about Georgia Southern.
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HC: What was/is your favorite moment as an eagle?
JJ: My favorite moment was the semester after I crossed, sometime in March of 2014. We had Alpha week that week. I was hosting/planning my first event which was “Stroll like an Alpha”. That whole week I was pretty much nervous, we had an event every week and I was just nervous about whether or not people will come out/will the event go as planned.. Keep in mind, all these were the first events we were throwing as alphas. Later that week, I started to have a good feeling. I saw a lot of people promoting. People started lining up at 4pm that day, and the event started at 6. The event comes around, and it’s a lot of people like the most people I’ve seen at an event here and it went really well. By far my favorite moment.
HC: What would you tell freshman Jerry Jones?
JJ: Just have fun. Keep doing what you doing. I wouldn’t change anything because I believe everything happens for a reason. If I were to change anything I did freshman year, good or bad it could potentially alter where I’m at now. and I wouldn’t change that. So every experience good or bad is something I learned from. So keep doing you, probably smile a little bit more. Have a little bit more fun but other than that. He did alright. I would tell him to change is major though… chemistry is no joke.
HC: What’s one thing you feel everyone should know about you?
JJ: I have a twin [brother] at Albany State, just on the fun fact side. He’s an alpha too. You’ve probably seen him, he comes down here a good bit. But we look nothing alike. Other than that, just know that I’m really trying to build this campus like the atmosphere on campus; the culture. I want more people trying to give back to campus and give back to the Statesboro community. hopefuly you see that as opposed to be me telling you that. If I graduate and you know that I had that drive to impact this campus and/or impact the community, whether it’s me telling you or just you seeing it. That’s something I want people to know.