Full Name: Jessica Jaskowski
Age: 21
Program and Year: Bachelor Double Major Arts: English and History
Relationship Status: In a Relationship
Hometown: Brampton (GTA)
What is the best experience you have had so far at Western?
Being proud with the school I attend. I genuinely love being a Mustang. I know it’s wild, but HOCO here at Western has got to be one of the best experiences I have ever had at Western. It gets better each year, especially with experience
;). You surround yourself with your favourite people, and it brings out the best in everybody. It’s fun, positive, young, free and prideful.
What are some personal goals you hope to accomplish before you finish school?
A personal goal I hope to accomplish before I finish school is to really figure myself out, who I am. But I realize I’m always growing and always changing, and I still love, accept, and embrace myself each time. I know this sounds cliché, but my identity has always been a lot more important to me. Maybe I just answered my own questions right there.
Do you have any plans for after graduation yet?
Backpacking Europe for 10 weeks right after graduating during the summer! Then taking that one year off to travel some more, enjoy life stress free, and then go back to graduate school.
Who is your favourite professor at Western?
I have a few: Professor Gucciardo at King’s, Professor Love at King’s, Professor Webb at King’s, and Professor Priestman at Main.
Who is the most interesting person you have met at Western?
Some of my very own friends. I met social justice people who have opened my views, changed my perspective on the world and influenced me to do something about it. Also that balloon man who’s out at every club… and the purple ninja turtles at HOCO… and Shrek’s gingerbread man costume at Jack’s on Halloween…
What, if any, groups or clubs are you involved in at Western?
King’s Charity Fashion Show, and History Club.
What is your favourite bar/ place to go out in London?
I’ve been to pretty much every bar/hangout space in London as a student of four years, but my friends and I agree Ceeps is our home, and Jacks, Molly Blooms have always been a good time for me.
What is your favourite place to get food in London or on campus?
MONGOLIAN GRILL HANDS DOWN NO QUESTIONS YET. We need to open more of these.
Tell me one thing about yourself that you think is odd or interesting.
I’m young at heart, a musician, and a travel addict. Carnivals are some of my favourite places in the world.
If you are not from London, how has moving away from home affected your relationships with friends or family?
I get homesick. I realize for me, sometimes change is hard but at the same time it’s exciting, because I get attached too. So I feel like whether I’m going home or coming back, I always feel like I’m saying bye to one part of me. I feel like I live two different lives sometimes. I have a home, family, pets, childhood and high school friends, and my jobs in one place. I have my new university friends for life, loving roommates, my own home and independence, boyfriend, education and success in another place.
Cats or Dogs? Choose wisely.
I’m a dog person. My dog is my favourite person. If you know me, you know I’m particularly pug-obsessed.
What advice would you give to a high school student about to apply to/ attend university?
Ask for reference letters and write a personal statement. I did relatively well in high school, but you can improve your success with more than just marks. I endured some personal hardships in my final year of high school, so I asked for reference letters from those I trusted – a wonderful and brilliant teacher, my friendly, helpful school counsellor, and my boss at work!
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to O-week?
Don’t be so intimidated, especially to be yourself and to just really get out there. I’m glad I participated and socialized like I did, I had a lot of fun, but there is always more that you could do to get involved! Like once, my roommate and I were too exhausted for pancake breakfast, so we skipped out on that one event, but maybe you don’t always need those extra hours ;) O-week is only one week, so push yourself. You won’t regret it.