"As soon as I heard about it, I joined, as soon as I joined, I wanted to become more involved in it," said Jake Connolly '13, discussing his involvement in the Community Friends program. The program pairs local kids with students who then commit to spending two hours each week with their community friend.
"It's just so simple," said Connolly, "it gives the kids someone to look up to in the community." Now a senior, Connolly is a student coordinator for the program and encourages all students to apply to become a mentor.
"It's so critical for Middlebury students to become involved in the community."
Over the past three years, Jake's bond with his community friend has grown immensely.
"It's definitely one of the most important things I do at Middlebury," said Connolly.
Part of Connolly's interest in the Community Friends program stemmed from his desire to cultivate relationships outside of the College.
"If you never get off campus you lose out on what ties the school to this place," he said.
Living off campus this year, Connolly feels more apart of the community he has spent his previous years giving back to.
"I've been enjoying frequenting Carol's Hungry Mind to study or the Co-op to grab a snack," he said.
"[Middlebury] is home for me, and at this point in my life, Middlebury is the place I identify the most with."
A pre-med molecular biology and biochemistry major, Connolly has also spent extensive time volunteering at Porter Hospital. Throughout his sophomore and junior years, he worked in the emergency room dealing with everything from broken arms to heart failure.
"I've worked in hospitals since I was a sophomore in high school," he said. "I've known I want to go into medicine for a long time."
Connolly plans to attend medical school next year and pursue a career as a surgeon.
"I want to operate on people," he said with a huge grin on his face. "I've watched countless surgeries, and I can't believe people do that for a living."
Back in high school, he worked as a janitor in the operating room of his local hospital. This early exposure to surgery sparked his interest and has helped guide both his academic and extra-curricular pursuits at Middlebury.
When asked about his other commitments, Connolly, in a over-emphasized British accent, simply said "theater."Â His involvement in theater didn't start until last fall, although he participated in drama in high school.
"I was kind of sick of it," he recalled. "I didn't pick up a script or see a stage. I didn't even go to plays. I was kind of a jerk about it, actually."
Yet, this all changed when he was cast in last fall's production of The Art of Success. Connolly's role in the play helped him rediscover his love for theater. Last spring, he acted in Caryl Churchil's play Serious Money, and this fall, he will perform in the Shakespeare classic As You Like It.
With theater, medicine and the Community Friends program, Connolly is involved in a variety of different aspects of college life. Over many years and an array of campus activities, the relationships he has built remain the most valued part of his college experience, noting how much he admires "the integrity and loyalty of my friends."
When asked if there is anything more to know about him, he paused for a moment and then said, "I make a mean Italian sub in Proctor – I've pretty much perfected it."
Student Spotlight: Jake Connolly
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