Since first stepping foot onto campus four years ago, Anthony "Tony" Jack has been seamlessly juggling multiple jobs while still remaining supportive and compassionate to others and genuinely enthusiastic in the classroom. When asked to describe Jack, both professors and students alike spoke highly of the diligent senior:
Director of Studies in the English department Professor Michele Barale described Jack as "both tactful and unafraid of honesty," adding that his work within women's and gender studies [WAGS], one of his two majors, has been "consistently outstanding."
"He has been a role model to me throughout these four years," said Jordan McKay '07, a close friend of Jack's and a fellow Diversity Intern. "[Jack] is extremely dedicated to school work and his friends. The campus will not be same once he leaves."
Jack balances two majors and a demanding extracurricular schedule. Despite his distinctive personality, Tony was not always who he is now. He said, "Pre-Amherst Tony did not hold his tongue. He was crazy, wild and kind of rude. He insisted on some threads that hold his past and present selves together." Even so, he was "still a workaholic and ... definitely a family man." His work ethic came to the fore in both academics and extracurriculars in high school. Jack completed the challenging International Baccalaureate program as well as the Advanced Placement program; all the while he played football and did track and field."
Jack's balancing act
Jack decided to attend the College because it was best one that had accepted him. He also said, "The financial aid [was] simply heavenly." Jack came to Amherst hoping to major in biology and economics and to complete the pre-med program. This changed after he took Religion 11 with Professors of Religion Robert Doran and Susan Niditch. "I loved it," said Jack. He also took Science and Gender, which he enjoyed thoroughly.
Although a WAGS major, he did not declare this major until his junior year. When asked why he decided on these majors, he said, "I liked doing close reading and both majors allowed me to read primary texts like the Bible, the Qur'an, Sutras, novels, plays, science journals and Supreme Court cases."
Jack wrote a thesis that interpreted a South Asian religious text, the "Bodhicaryavatara" written by a monk named Santideva. He offered a unique interpretation of the text's translation. "I wrote a commentary on the first three chapters of the text to show that Santideva's intentions were to summon the world to Buddhahood instead of just generating merit as scholars like the Dalai Lama and Geshe Yeshe Tobden have argued," said Jack.
WAGS helped Jack develop skills he was already cultivating with his religion major. "The WAGS major allowed me to study the rights of citizens on the fringes of the law and to learn about race, class and gender in literature. I became more liberal in my thinking about gender roles, sexuality, constructions of gender and relations between the sexes," said Jack. "For example, I am more aware of power dynamics in relationship because they are oftentimes not just black and white. ... To put it simply, I judge less, accept more and look behind things more than before."
Work and extracurriculars
It's hardly surprising that Jack has achieved what he has given his extraordinary work ethic. He wakes up at 7:30 a.m. every morning and immediately begins working. He juggles several jobs simultaneously that occupy from 13 to 40 hours weekly. In his junior year, he managed four steady jobs and two seasonal positions. His diligence has persisted until this year. He worked as a Diversity Intern for the Office of admissions for six hours a week, in the Octagon for eight hours a week, as an Academic Peer Mentor for three hours a week and in the gym six hours a week. "These jobs taught me time management, organizational, communication and budgeting skills … I like being busy because it forces me to be on top of my game in everything I do," said Jack. During his spare time, Jack was part of the Black Student Union and the Black Men Group. He also enjoyed having dinner with two of his good friends, Pat McGrath '07 and Katherine Mooney '04, and going to lectures.
Jack's friends say he is a genuinely selfless person, and his concern for socioeconomic diversity on campus is testament to this. Jack is happy that the college is taking strides to foster a more diverse community. He said, "If you want to know why, I have two reasons: Demisha Lee and Demisha Lee. We get the best and brightest from all over the world-every race, every class."
Next year
Jack has assumed a distinguished space in the College community. Fortunately, he will not sever his ties with the College; next year, Jack serve as the Alumni Fellow. "Amherst can't get rid of me that fast," stated Jack.
When asked if he was nervous about future employment, Jack replied with a laugh, "Not really. Working 40 hours a week without classes will be like a vacation." The College can count itself lucky that his effervescent personality will remain a cherished presence in the community.