Catching Confidence

Jackson Haire ’22, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Major: Business Marketing

How did you hear about Concordia and why did you choose to attend college here?

Concordia College is close to my hometown, so I had heard about it throughout high school and knew graduates who went here. After my campus visit and talking with coach Terry Horan, Concordia felt like the right place for me.

What do you like about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

The proximity to home is a big plus. The downtown area has good spots to study, eat, and hang out with friends. The people here are also friendly.

How did you decide on your major?

I enjoy the human and personal aspects of marketing and how it is constantly changing. I like taking on new projects, talking to new people, and creating meaningful relationships.

What are the benefits of taking classes in the Offutt School of Business?

The staff are all very personable and easy to reach out to for help when needed. The classrooms are well sized and never overcrowded.

Do you have a favorite professor or course and why?

Professor Jiang is my favorite. I had Dr. Jiang for two of my capstone marketing classes in which she made topics understandable and the classes enjoyable. She is also my academic advisor and has been a great aid to me during my time here at Concordia.

What activities are you involved in?

I have been involved in Concordia’s football program for five years.

What is the student-athlete experience like at Concordia?

Being a student-athlete involves a lot of sacrifice and developing your time management skills. Once you have a good routine, it becomes even more fun. Your teammates and coach are like a family away from home. I have developed close relationships with teammates that will last a lifetime. 

How do you manage your schedule as a student-athlete? 

For me, it was about developing a good routine. It can be tough waking up extra early and having lifts, film, and practice scattered between classes, but after a week or so you become accustomed to it. Asking upperclassmen what the best times were to take certain classes was a major help to me. Year by year, you become better at the balancing act.

What do you like best about being a Cobber?

I enjoy the smaller-sized classes and the tight-knit community.

Tell us about your PEAK (Pivotal Experience in Applied Knowledge) opportunities and what you learned.

One of my PEAK opportunities was a ceramics course. Our class made salt and pepper shakers as one of our projects and donated them to those in need. We were also required to visit art galleries with people, who may have never been before, to get them exposed to the arts. My second PEAK opportunity was interning in Concordia’s communications and marketing office (MarCom). I learned what goes into planning and executing a project, along with learning how to use a web-based work management platform to better plan and communicate with team members. I also gained more insight into various aspects of social media marketing.

What do you value most about your Concordia experience?

I value both the good and tough times I have gone through with friends and the relationships that I have made.

What have you learned about yourself since becoming a Cobber?

I have learned that I am capable of a lot more than I think is possible when I have a good group of people around me. Having people that supported me but also challenged me helped me to grow.

What advice would you give to a high school student from the Detroit Lakes area who is considering Concordia? 

Concordia is a great college full of great faculty and staff who have your best interests in mind. The class sizes allow you to know your professors personally and receive help when you need it. It is also in good proximity to Detroit Lakes to allow you to maintain your own independence while not being too far away from home.

What are your plans following graduation?

I am still deciding. I would like to do some traveling and I am currently contemplating the possibility of a job opportunity in Jiangsu, China. After, I plan to pursue a career in social media marketing.

^{Published December 2022}