“My birth order made me very independent, and I learned that my motivation had to come from inside me,” explained Jake. “My mission helped me value my education, so I decided that things were going to be much different in college from my high-school experience.”

Initially, Jake’s plan was to do a couple of years at UVU then transfer to a more academically prestigious school. “But I found a lot of good opportunities here,” he recalled. “My efforts went a lot further at UVU, so I stuck around.”

Finding a regular place to study on the third floor of the Fulton Library, Jake saw students and staff coming and going from the Center for Constitutional Studies. His interest piqued, he walked in and talked to Paige Larsen, senior administrative assistant, about CCS. Danni Maddox, a Quill Project lead at the time, also took time to answer Jake’s questions.

“They told me about it, I applied, and here I am,” Jake explained. He’s now in his last semester and will graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minors in Constitutional Studies and Russian Studies.

“Before I served a mission, I was planning on a math-related career,” said Jake. “But COVID hit while I was in Russia, and we couldn’t go out and teach. I spent a lot of time reading faith-based books and ones on philosophy and political science. Living in Russia and coming to love reading while there really sparked my interest in political theory, which drove what I chose to major in.”

Beyond UVU, Jake plans to attend law school after taking a year to prepare for the entrance exam. “I gotta grind and get a good LSAT score to get into Georgetown or BYU Law School,” he said, and he is up to that and other challenges.

“I just got engaged in Hawaii,” said Jake with a smile. “I proposed to my girlfriend Paige on the beach. She screamed and jumped up and down. She was ready to get engaged, and I was taking my time. But once I decided on the direction I wanted to go, things fell into place really quickly.”

“I’ve seen that pattern in other areas of my life,” Jake continued. “When I commit to something, it’s 100 percent. Once I make the decision, it’s game on.”

When Jake was offered a team-lead position on the Quill Project last year, it was a game-on proposition for him. “I enjoy working at the Center. It has supplied a lot of cool opportunities for me to work with academics and visiting scholars,” he said. “It has pushed me beyond just research skills. I’ve also learned about working as a team across different countries, cultures, and time zones.”

His time at CCS has also exposed Jake to the lives and work of our country’s Founders. “I’ve really come to appreciate George Washington,” Jake said. “He set the tone for the nation. The United States is the exception to the rule following a revolution. Establishing our Constitution came down to the discourse and debates that resolved tensions without internal violence.”

Working at the Center has also filled Jake with gratitude for those who have made this opportunity possible. Angela and Bryan Wood have given generously to help student employees, which is why many are known as Wood research assistants. “The Woods’ generosity is going toward something good and important,” said Jake. “In talking to Bryan I learned about his reasons for supporting CCS. He has a great concern for our nation and civic education. Their contributions are being put to good use.”

Jake’s biggest takeaway from the last three years is this small bit of wisdom: “It's OK to push myself,” he said. “Being at UVU and CCS has taught me to be self-motivated. I’ve learned that I can do things because I want to do them, not because someone else tells me to.”