JAG Indiana has amplified a Portage student's confidence

When scheduling classes for his junior year, Ronald Jackson was asked if he would like to enroll in Portage’s JAG program instead of having a study hall.

“Why not,” he thought to himself.

Jackson was unaware of the impact Jobs for America’s Graduates would have on the remainder of his high school career.

"I was a quiet, kind of skittish kid when I first started this program — I've really been able to explode my mind," said Jackson, the Portage JAG President.

JAG is a resiliency-building workforce program in 40 states that helps students who encounter barriers to graduation learn in-demand employability skills and receive career exploration experiences, according to its website. Since its inception in 2006, JAG Indiana has served 40,000 Hoosiers and graduated more than 95% of its students.

One of Jackson’s biggest accomplishments in the program was creating his first resume and getting a job at Blue Beacon Truck Wash of Lake Station. He noted it was an “up and down” experience working nearly 40 hours each week while balancing schoolwork.

Portage Principal Michael Stills has gotten to know Jackson over the past year and a half because he asserts himself and makes sure he chats with administration each day. Stills recalled Jackson proudly sharing with him how he left Blue Beacon and was going to start working as a courtesy patrol officer at Menards.

“He is always reaching out to make contact with someone,” Stills said. “He’s one of the nicest young men I’ve ever met."

Stills was happy to note the skills Jackson has obtained through JAG have helped put Portage on the map. Jackson recently had the opportunity to travel to the U.S. Capitol to attend the JAG National Student Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C. Jackson and Hammond Central's Tyrell Frieson were the only students from Northwest Indiana to attend the leadership conference. 

"When you have someone who represents us in such a fine light, it makes you feel good," Stills said.

During the conference, Jackson attended leadership sessions, networked with students, representatives and JAG Specialists from different states, and participated in advocacy training sessions. With being a local JAG president, Jackson found the conference to be very informative because he learned how to hold class meetings and make sure every student is involved. 

He recalled learning an impactful quote at the conference: "It's not helpful if it's not helping." The quote is intended to help individuals better themselves, he said.

Jackson also met with U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, to discuss current topics in Northwest Indiana.

"We're sitting in his office and I'm looking around and he has Valpo, IU and Purdue banners hanging up," Jackson said with a smile. "It's kind of crazy our congressman grew up 30 minutes away from us, and everything I've grown up to, he's kind of grown up to too." 

Jackson said he and Mrvan discussed how to improve the Region's school systems. Jackson noted educational funding is something important to him since coming to Portage from the Chicago and Gary school systems. Prior to coming to Portage, Jackson wasn't aware certain school-related opportunities, like afterschool tutoring, existed, he said.

Having the opportunity to meet Mrvan and have a conversation with him was his favorite part of the trip.

"The feeling that congressmen are still human, and they're not rude and disrespectful and actually listen, it warmed my heart up," Jackson said.

Since coming back from D.C., Jackson has begun planning a food and clothing drive he wants to host at Portage before graduating in the spring. He wants to follow in the footsteps of his late aunt, who used to host turkey giveaways in Chicago each year. 

Jackson said he's excited for his future after high school because he is pursuing a real estate license and attending Valparaiso University in the fall to study accounting and business management. He admires himself for having a pathway for his future — something he wasn't sure of prior to coming to Portage and enrolling in JAG.

"Ron is someone who's very responsible and outgoing, and shows kindness and respect," Jackson's JAG Specialist, Allison Knight, said. "He works full-time and has straight A's. He's going to do really awesome things in his life."