Biography: Jacob’s life is in great part, fueled by the relationship he had with his father. Almost every night when he was growing up, his dad would read to him before he went to bed. While the characters and settings varied slightly, they always told stories of grand adventures, driven by heroes traveling through unknown lands and defeating the challenges they faced. Some of the tales he remembers best were from the Magic Tree House collection, one of the first book series he ever read with his dad. His dad and he would also create stories of their own, like having his stuffed animals go on quests, traversing the uncharted lands of his bedroom. He wishes he could tell even more stories of the books they read, but in the summer before sixth grade, his father passed away. His guide to the unknown worlds within the pages of books and, more importantly, to the real one in which he lived was gone. He was determined to make his father proud trying as hard as he could throughout high school. He attended Brentwood School where he was valedictorian, concertmaster of the orchestra, founder of the school’s first esports team, and creator of the social entrepreneurship club. He also played water polo and swam for all four years. Apart from academics, he created his own video game startup, interned at the Motion Picture Corporation of America, and is currently working on the development of a film startup. He is currently a sophomore at UCLA studying Business Economics and is looking forward to what the future may hold for him. 

 

Future Plans: This summer, Jacob was fortunate enough to be chosen to be an intern in a selective group at Grandview LA. Grandview is a talent management company where he will be able to pursue both his interests in business and in film, gaining priceless skills in each. After college, he hopes to get a job in either consulting, film production, or a similar field in order to gain foundational business knowledge. At any point during this process, or after, his dream would be to create his own company producing things that will inspire others and create a positive impact in their lives. Once he comes up with a strong enough idea, he will begin pursuing it and stay on that track for as long as it takes.  

 

What this scholarship means to me: This scholarship means more to me than just financial aid. It represents being able to take opportunities to further my education and career without a substantial financial burden. My brother will also be entering college soon, and without scholarships, I was worried he would not be able to go without entering serious debt. Without these worries, I will be able to be more motivated and focused on my schoolwork. Additionally, with my interest in entrepreneurship, I would also possibly be able to pursue my dreams of starting my own company. This summer, I was able to gain a selective internship, however, it is unpaid, so this scholarship will be even more valuable to me.