Jeremy Staska

Professionals - Weekend
Current Industry/Job: Oil & Gas/Commercial Representative
From: Houston, TX

Favorite quote and why:

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” - Henry Ford. I like this quote because I feel it is indicative of how your attitude/mindset impacts your ability to succeed. Approaching situations with a positive mentality and confidence will prepare you to take on any task regardless of the difficulty.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor and why?

If I had my choice of any mentor I would still choose the one the person that has mentored me over the past 28 years, my father. My personal values, morals and ambition were all derived from him. I learned just as much about failure as I learned about success. I also witnessed firsthand the value of sacrificing your own interests for that of others as my dad went to night school for 10 years so that he could be present at all of my activities.

Best memory from your first year in the MBA program:

Immersion Week! While it may not qualify as the "best" memory, the week of immersion was certainly unforgettable. You learn so much about your team in a short period of time and the experience is truly unique. The law of diminishing returns was evident as sleep deprivation set in towards the end of the week, yet the accomplishments/growth that came from immersion made it all worthwhile.

What story does your family always tell about you?

I am a pretty competitive individual and that translates to nearly every facet of my life. Though at times it is a good trait to possess, family game night is not one of those times. As a kid I would not allow game night to be over until I could declare victory against my two sisters and parents regardless of what the game was....I have gotten a little better as an adult but my wife may disagree.

What advice would you like to provide incoming students?

Every individual in the Rice MBA program was chosen because of their unique skill set and abilities. I would advise students to avoid preconceived notions and to not discount any of your classmates abilities. You will quickly find that everyone adds value in a distinctive way. I would also encourage students to attend as many functions as possible and immerse themselves in the experience. The coursework will be challenging and there will be times where you definitely will question how all the assignments will get completed, but don't sweat it you will survive.

Any additional unique facts you would like to share:

During my college years at Trinity I was a member of the football team and was on the sideline for one of the greatest college football plays of all time. We were down by two with two seconds left on the clock and lateraled the ball 15 times before scoring a touchdown to win the conference championship. Check it out on YouTube if you get some time!