Senior Jake Baker takes full advantage of his college experience, not
wasting a second of it
Senior Jake Baker has a large appetite for leadership
Friends describe him as loud, outspoken, passionate, competitive and over the top, but in a positive way, of course.
Senior Jake Baker is the Associated Students of Linfield College’s vice president, co-captain of the men’s soccer team, a Pi Kappa
Alpha brother, the fraternity’s scholarship chair and vice president of Greek Honor Society Order of Omega. Needless to say he is a
busy body surging with energy and excitement to leave a lasting impact on the Linfield community during his last year as a Wildcat
leader.
“By the time I am done here I want to look back on the year and actually be able to see what I have helped accomplish,” Baker
said. “I want people to remember me as a leader who practiced what I preached and for doing everything in my power to make things
happen in whatever venue I am in.”
Some may say that Baker is spreading himself too thin. That is not the case for this organized go-getter. He uses the calendar on his
cellphone to keep track of ASLC meetings, fraternity get togethers and soccer practices, he even blocks out time to work on homework
and hang out with his friends. Baker swears by establishing a simple and repetitive routine to keep all of his responsibilities under
control.
Baker transferred to Linfield from Western Oregon University after his sophomore year. The McMinnville resident felt like he wasn’t
being pushed academically, and wanted the opportunity to play soccer under the leadership of his stepdad while being a part of
Linfield’s intimate community.
“For me, being involved on campus has opened a lot of doors,” Baker said. “The various leadership positions that I hold have
given me the opportunity to meet fellow students who have made a lasting impact on me. It’s awesome, I am figuring myself out as an
individual, while making a positive contribution to my school.”
When Baker is not darting down the soccer field, hanging out with his fraternity brothers, leading a senate meeting or checking up on
Greek Life he is most likely studying. He will be graduating in the spring with a political science major and gender studies minor.
Baker attributes athletics for instilling a work ethic that is valuable to him in every facet of his life. If you couldn’t guess it, Baker is
struggling to narrow his focus in on one goal as vice president of the student body.
“I want to look back on the year and be able to put my finger on the changes that have occurred on campus,” he said. “I know
the students have ideas about what can be improved and I want to act on it. Rubber will meet the road with that here in the next few
months.”
One of Baker’s main goals is to collaborate with other clubs, organizations, faculty and students in the Linfield community on
projects.
“I want the student government to be more involved on campus,” he said. “We want to focus on projects that will benefit the entire
student body.”
For someone who has been a part of athletic teams since he could walk, Baker emphasizes comradery among his peers in order to
see success as a school.
“I feel really blessed to have classes with so many smart, fun and sociable people,” Baker said. “People don’t even understand how
much of an impact we can have on one another. We can’t take for granted.”
By Sarah Mason/ Copy Editor