Jada Samuels

Jada Samuels is a transfer management major from Bolingbrook, IL

Hometown: Bolingbrook, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2025

Transfer from: Georgia State University

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
Family history and opportunity.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
For the majority of my life, I was a student-athlete — basketball was my passion. My goal was to get a college scholarship to play basketball; however, my goals shifted as I approached the end of high school. Despite being a star athlete on my team at Metea Valley High School, my desires began to shift away. I founded my smoothie company, Jada Juice, during my junior year. For a while I was balancing school, sports and entrepreneurship, but as I approached my senior year, I began to realize basketball may not be my end goal after all. I was raised on the moral of never quitting what I started; therefore, I continued to play basketball throughout high school. But I decided I wanted to focus solely on my entrepreneurial pursuits once I got to college, and that’s exactly what I did. I am currently a junior at NIU where I’m majoring in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and social responsibility. Although I no longer play basketball, it’s still a part of me and has a huge impact on my life. As a result of being an athlete, I still value fitness, health and teamwork. A lot of the values and morals I learned from basketball are instilled within me today, and I continue to apply them to my entrepreneurial journey.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I’m majoring in management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and social responsibility. As a business owner, I’m eager to gain insight into what it takes to run a successful business. At NIU, I’m gaining not only a business education, but also firsthand experience, thanks to the NIU business staff. My goal is to continue to share my business with the campus here at NIU and continue to grow as a Black female business owner.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
Coming to NIU as a transfer student from Georgia State University, I wasn’t aware of the numerous opportunities NIU has for business students. Since being at NIU, I’ve been a part of numerous pitch competitions, won several scholarships and participated in effective networking events. As I soon enter my senior year at NIU, I look forward to the endless opportunities in store for me.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
Being a commuter student, it can be challenging to meet new people and form bonds on campus. However, thanks to the business department helping me get accustomed to campus, I’ve been able to form numerous new relationships and connections with other business students.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
This past fall, I was initiated into the illustrious Delta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Being part of this organization not only allows me to form lifetime sisterly bonds, but also to carry out my values of empowering my community. This organization has immensely added to my experience as a Huskie. The Delta Omicron Chapter participates in events on campus that not only bring students together, but also set an example for the Black community as a whole. My goal is to leave a lasting impact on the NIU campus, and Alpha Kappa Alpha is helping me do just that.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The College of Business has done a great job of making me feel safe, supported and successful as a student-entrepreneur. When I first came to NIU, I wasn’t sure what opportunities were offered to business students. Once I met individuals such as Becca Husar, Dr. Christine Mooney and Karinne Bredberg, my experience at NIU became life changing. They have all been very supportive of my entrepreneur journey with assistance such as pitch coaching, networking and business guidance. Relationships such as these are what has propelled my experience at NIU to the next level.

Are there transfer-specific resources, offices or services that you use to help you succeed at NIU?
71 North is a resource that has transformed my experience at NIU. The goal of 71 North is to provide a space for current and aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with like-minded individuals and access resources to further their visions. When I was first introduced to 71 North, my mind was blown at the entire setup. It’s important for entrepreneurs to have a creative space to get the innovative juices flowing, and 71 North provides just that. The environment is safe, supportive, peaceful and innovative — everything an entrepreneur needs in one space. Federico Bassetti did a great job giving me a tour of the studio and helping me feel welcomed. I look forward to continuing to expand Jada Juice using the numerous opportunities 71 North provides.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Throughout my academic journey, I've consistently encountered teachers who leave a profound impact on me, their influence lingering long after I've completed my studies. Among them, Dr. Christine Mooney stands out prominently. During my sophomore year at NIU, I had the privilege of taking her MGMT 311 course on social entrepreneurship. Dr. Mooney not only fostered a nurturing classroom environment, but also extended her support beyond the confines of the course. When I shared my aspirations for entrepreneurship with her, she offered guidance that proved instrumental during my time at NIU. Although she's no longer on my class schedule, Dr. Mooney remains a trusted mentor I can always rely on. I anticipate maintaining a lasting connection with her after my graduation from NIU.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I have always been a student who strives for excellence. Attending class regularly has always been a value of mine; I believe it helps you excel. I also believe that it’s important to apply yourself not only in the classroom, but also outside of it. Whenever I’m taking a class that’s a bit harder than others, I make sure to apply equal effort inside and outside of class by taking advantage of resources such as professors’ office hours. These habits have helped me achieve my current academic accolades.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the 71 North Innovation Studio. Being able to have a space where I can connect with like-minded individuals and feel supported has been what continues to draw me to the studio.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would say when it comes to researching a college to think about the location of the college and what the surrounding environment is like. Additionally, I would say to consider the amount of diversity on campus and the different resources/programs offered. Being a transfer student, I wish I would have done more research in high school, so that I could have ended up at the right college on the first go-round. Despite the fact I had to transfer in order to get here, transferring to NIU is the best decision I could have made.

Why is a college education important to you?
Education has always been important in my family. Both of my parents attended NIU, yet their academic endeavors were cut short due to the responsibilities of raising me at a young age. Witnessing their unfinished college journeys motivates me to strive for academic success. I am driven by the desire to complete what they started and have a lasting impact on the NIU campus. I firmly believe that college presents a variety of opportunities and perspectives essential for navigating life. My college experience has played an impactful role in shaping me into the independent, disciplined leader I am today, and I eagerly anticipate further growth throughout my academic journey.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
As someone who is very analytical and goal-driven, it’s important to manage my goals and responsibilities thoroughly in order to not become stressed or overwhelmed. As I’ve gained a better understanding of myself and how I operate, I realized that writing my to-do lists down has helped me maintain balance. I organize all of my assignments for the entire semester into an Excel spreadsheet prior to the beginning of classes to allow me to keep track of due dates and have good time management. As an entrepreneur, things can get pretty hectic. It’s important to try and stay as organized as possible and maintain a decent work/life balance, otherwise we can become easily overwhelmed and burned out. It is important that we also learn to give ourselves grace, because we aren’t perfect, although we try so hard to be. Being aware of my perfectionism and occasional self-doubt, I make sure to implement self-care routines where I’m intentional with speaking life into myself, taking time for myself and pouring into myself. Social entrepreneurs are always pouring into others, and if we forget to pour into ourselves as well, our effectiveness with influencing our communities can decline immensely.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I make sure to add any events I plan to attend to my calendar and set frequent reminders to maintain good time management.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I make sure to implement my self-care routines and do things that help me to relax, such as fitness activities, spending time with family and journaling.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I’m the owner of Jada Juice, an all-natural smoothie company I launched at the age of 17. The goal of Jada Juice is to promote generational health amongst health-conscious individuals, with an emphasis on minority communities. Each smoothie is vegan-friendly and made without artificial flavoring or preservatives. I currently reach my audience by participating in social events such as food festivals, speaking engagements and e-commerce sales. Since launching Jada Juice, I’ve been featured on major platforms such as Fox 32, NBC 5 and Black People Eats. During my time at NIU, I won the DePaul Pitch Madness Competition and the De La Vega Innovation Lab Pitch Competition. My goal is to make Jada Juice products available in local public schools like NIU, as well as grocery stores. I also want to open an official Jada Juice smoothie bar in the heart of Chicago. I’m currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree at NIU to continue learning about operating a successful business.