Pierre Jones
Baltimore, MD
Communication & Media Studies Major
"Before you come to Goucher, you will have stereotypes," says Pierre Jones, an aspiring director and avid basketball player. "But the campus is an accepting community. From the students to the staff, this community strives for diversity. A lot of the stereotypes I had, I don't have anymore. I think that's what Goucher does. It shows you how we're all the same."
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A Baltimore native, Pierre Jones was initially attracted to Goucher because it was close to home, and he had heard good things about the men's basketball program.
"I went to high school around the corner at Calvert Hall, and my coach recommended Goucher," says Jones. "I didn't want to go too far for college, and he thought playing here would be good for me. Division III teams offer more of a community. It's not like playing for the crowd at a big coliseum."
Although Jones loved playing college ball—and quickly distinguished himself as one of the team's star forwards—toward the end of his second season, he made the difficult decision to take a break from basketball and concentrate on his studies.
"Basketball is really time-consuming, and when you combine that with being a full-time student, there are ups and downs," says Jones. "I built a lot of strong relationships with people on the team. That made it hard to quit. But what I think I got from basketball is the discipline to go after whatever I want."
As a communication and media studies major, Jones set his sights on the competitive entertainment industry. He filled his schedule with courses in audio and video production and computer music, with a view toward a career in directing music videos, commercials, and other short film projects.
"The professors are great," says Jones. "They really push you. They make you think outside the box. And you get something different from each teacher."
While taking advantage of the academic opportunities at Goucher, Jones also found time to enjoy the college's proximity to Baltimore City, traveling downtown almost daily to visit friends and family. He thinks more students should venture off campus and take advantage of the city's cultural and social opportunities.
"Goucher is like a bubble sometimes, and a lot of times people don't like to step outside of it," says Jones. "But in Baltimore City alone, there's so much to learn. When you interact with people, you learn things. There's so much more out there."
Jones says that he never worried about fitting in or being accepted at Goucher. Through talking about his interests, he naturally made friends and found himself involved in campus life—and he thinks that anyone could succeed here, with the right attitude.
"The best thing you can do is just give it your all," says Jones. "Talk to other people who share your goals and aspirations. Get into clubs. If you like sports, join a team. Just don't sit around and do nothing. Don't alienate yourself. Jump in the middle of it."