Name: Jake Benedict
Hometown: Colebrook, CT
Major: Psychology, with a minor in Computer Science
Class Year: 2015
Campus Activities: President of F&M Players, DJ for WFNM (Fridays at 2pm)
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Compassionate, Loyal, Optimistic
Relationship Status: In a long-term, committed relationship.
Dream Job: Video Game Psychologist
Guilty Pleasure: Cooking Competition Shows (Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Donut Showdown, etc)
Hidden Talent: Graphic Design, especially show posters. I’ve designed posters for productions at Connecticut College and Franklin & Marshall, and I designed the poster for Bye Bye Birdie. I also enjoy making gifs.
What did you enjoy most about Bye Bye Birdie?
I really enjoyed getting the opportunity not only to play the namesake of the show, Conrad Birdie, but also playing a part that is very different from my own personality; it was a fun and unique challenge. More than that though, I enjoyed the friendships that I made and strengthened throughout the process. F&M Players really becomes a family, and that’s what makes it so special.
Tell us about a silly moment backstage.
It’s not particularly silly, but during the Friday night show, at the end of the first act, the actor who played Hugo was supposed to do a stage punch and knock me out. Something that had happened a little differently than usual right before it distracted me, and I wasn’t thinking in the moment. We had been practicing getting the stage punch to get more realistic by having him be closer to me, and because I was distracted I forgot to turn my head, and he punched me right in the nose. The reactions of the actors were genuine, and they just had to go on with it. After the curtain closed, everyone ran up to me to make sure that I was ok; it just stung a bit, but I was fine. Hugo’s actor gave me a big hug and apologized. It’s definitely an experience I will remember!
Why did you choose F&M?
I went to a very small school in Connecticut (Westminster School), where my graduating class was fewer than 70 people. I knew I wanted to go to a small college with a beautiful campus, lots of opportunities, challenging academics, and professors who would know my name and work closely with me. F&M was the perfect fit. It has offered me everything that I wanted, and more. I’ve become President of an organization I love, got a Hackman as a beginning Psychology major, and made friends (students and professors) for a lifetime.
What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class at F&M was definitely Sensation and Perception (PSY301) with Fred Owens. I want to study virtual reality and it’s role in video games, and learning about the way in which human beings observe and understand the world, and how they interact with it, is fascinating to me. Professor Owens is a brilliant professor with a huge passion for what he does, and it really shows in his teaching.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself with a wife and two kids, and living somewhere beautiful, like the countryside of England or Portland, hopefully doing a job I love in the video game or virtual reality industry. With luck, I’ll still be actively involved in community theatre as well.
What superpower would you have?
One of my favorite superheroes has always been Professor X, and thus I would love to have the power of telepathy.
Do you have a motivational quote that keeps you going?
“Here is a fact that should help you fight a bit longer: things that don’t actually kill you outright make you stronger.” – Piet Hein, A Maxim for Vikings