Why Advertising?

Jake Krumwiede 

It was sophomore year at Batavia Highschool. Like most students, I had no idea what career path I wanted to pursue. Sure, I could follow in my dad’s and older brother’s footsteps and work towards a finance degree, but for me, that seemed too “inside-the-box.” Curious to see what truly interested me, I enrolled in my first high school marketing class. The class was nothing more than an introduction to the world of marketing and advertising from a business perspective. I figured the course would be nothing more than another boring business class... 

I was wrong. 

For the first time, I found myself looking forward to class! I became a sponge, wanting to learn everything there was to know about the industry, even though it was only an introductory, surface-level course. 

What really began to captivate me was when I began to take notice of my environment. Everything that surrounded me was advertised and sold to the consumer. The books, the tables, the paint of the walls, and even the foundation of the building I was in. Everything around me started with advertising. If practically everything has gone through advertising, why would I not want to be at the center of it? 

Over the next year or so, I began to look at potential colleges to attend. I knew that I wanted to be a part of the world of advertising. Not only did the University of Illinois have an advertising program, but the premier advertising program in the nation. A simple decision. I remain thankful to have gotten the opportunity to study something I am passionate about. It’s also refreshing to finally be surrounded by peers who have the same passion for advertising that I do. These people have allowed me to see how high the ceiling really is. I don’t just want to be the best advertiser at my firm. I don’t even want to be the best advertiser in the country. My end goal is to become a head executive at THE top advertising firm in the world. Sure it might be a large hurdle to jump, but no one ever made it to the top by standing still. Strategy is my focus and dream, but is not my finish line. I know I don’t know much, but I sure as hell am going to make sure that whatever it is, I'm going to put my whole heart and soul into it.