Embracing opportunities helped JC student Emily Matko achieve success

Emily Matko came to Jackson College seeking a fresh start and a promising future. 

“I went online, and I was searching up colleges that could accept my GPA in high school and that also had dorm options and I came across Jackson College,” she said. “It had the diversity I was looking for. It had the small classes I was looking for and it had the opportunities I was looking for. So, it was a perfect opportunity.” 

Two years later, the DeWitt, Michigan native is leaving with her head held high and a renewed sense of purpose.  

“It helped me become the person I am today,” Matko said. “It helped me to really find out who I am and it helped me realize the type of career I wanted.” 

Emily found her passion in marketing after exploring various majors, leading her to earn a digital marketing certificate. Prior to that, an internship at Ella Sharp Museum solidified her decision.   

“I’ve been doing it for a year now, and I love it,” she said. “I feel like Jackson College really helped me expand my horizons.” 

“They have both really helped grow my character and become the person I am today and helped me overcome in a way being more uncomfortable in certain situations to help build my character,” she said. “When you’re comfortable all the time, you’re not going to grow.”  

She felt being president of the student government made her become a better leader.  

“If students come to me with a concern, I can help them. I could lead them in the right direction,” Matko said. “I could help them advocate for themselves. Any questions, comments or concerns they have, they can always run it through me and I always do my best to achieve their question, comment or concern.”  

She did not get through her journey alone. Her professors and some staff members she worked closely with including Antoine Breedlove, Brenda Brandon, Haley Hampton and Ariel Maturine played an integral part of her success. 

“I really have always appreciated their understanding and commitment to my education,” Emily said.  

Some of her success can be attributed to her personal motto; “Just say, ‘Yes.’”  

“It helped me to really find out who I am and it helped me realize the type of career I wanted,” she said. “Jackson College has done so much for me, and I always tell people how good JC is and the experiences I’ve had. It’s such a small school but there’s so many possibilities here. You just have got to say, ‘yes’ to everything when you’re here.” 

Emily will be transferring to a four-year institution to get her bachelor’s degree in marketing. She would eventually like to pursue life coaching.