Jake Adams ’23 confident CBA has prepared him for next steps
February 8, 2023
Senior Jake Adams has challenged himself during his time at Christian Brothers Academy.
Look no further than when asked about some of his most impactful classes in his career.
“Two that come to mind are my junior math teacher Mr. [Bill] Frake who taught me AP Calculus AB, which made me expand what I am looking for in a class and how I tackle the syllabus,” he said. “Now, my senior teacher in physics is Mr. [Craig] Dashkavich for AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism, and that is the hardest class I have had in awhile.”
It did not go unnoticed that Adams specifically mentioned his teachers when describing his tough course load. The faculty members that he has worked with over three and a half years is something he has really appreciated about the Academy.
“I’ll miss the specialization of teachers at CBA and how they adapt to your needs,” Adams said. “In college, teachers have a lot to work with, but at CBA, the teachers do a very good job of meeting your needs and helping you as long as you are willing to reach out.”
While he will always appreciate the efforts of his teachers at CBA, he knows they are a big reason why he is so confident in choosing Wake Forest University for his college education. Adams applied as an Early Decision candidate to Wake Forest, comfortable that it was the right school for him after working with CBA’s Guidance Office and taking their College & Career Planning course.
“I knew the weather, campus size, and all those things that I wanted in a college, which helped narrow down my selection,” he recalls. “My guidance counselor, Mr. [Pat] Brennan, was helpful in picking Wake Forest as my Early Decision and presenting all of the options to me so I could make a choice.”
Based on what he desired from a future college, Wake Forest popped up early on his radar when doing his research.
“I went down to North Carolina to tour it and fell in love with the campus, and from there I just decided on it being my number one choice.”
Adams intends to major in exercise science with a concentration on pre-medicine. He is also interested in adding a business minor to his college repertoire, something that he studied at CBA in Mr. Dave Santos’ AP Economics class.
Before he heads down to Winston-Salem in the fall, he has a few more months left in Lincroft. It was around this time last year that Adams was inducted into CBA’s chapter of the National Honor Society, affirming the hard work he had put into his academics, extracurriculars and community service. He specifically believes his involvement in the National Honor Society was one of the best things he has done at CBA.
“I think that the National Honor Society is helpful because you see everyone else who is looking at similar colleges,” he said. “The service aspect is very enriching emotionally as well as good for the community.”
Aside from NHS, Adams has been involved in the Model UN club, the Jazz Band as a drummer, and the crew team. He was selected by the Guidance Office as a HOBY Nominee during his sophomore year for his leadership qualities. Academically, he has added a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and a member of CBA’s Scholars Program to his resume.
As his time at the Academy dwindles and he looks towards his May graduation, he understands that there is a certain environment at CBA that has helped him develop as a young man.
“I think the culture at CBA is one that encourages and rewards hard work,” he said. “It is what creates the social experience here – being able to work and wanting to explore your interests, then connecting with people who have shared interests and creating those bonds.”