Senior Trenton Jackson turns perseverance and empathy into a career supporting Maine students

In many ways, Trenton Jackson (Social Work, ’25) embodies what it means to be an outstanding UNE student — passion for his major, gaining real-world experience through an internship that has led to promising professional pursuits, and demonstrating his work ethic and leadership skills on the football field.  

Jackson’s accomplishments are even more remarkable when he tells the story about how he came to UNE and how he persevered to reach graduation.  

When Jackson was 2, his father died of a heart attack, at which point Jackson’s mother raised him and his sister as a single working mother for much of his childhood. Money was tight, but education remained a priority.  

“We've been through a lot growing up,” Jackson said. “I mean, we've been through so much. And I feel like my family's really good at taking pain and making it into something different. Throughout the years, we've lost a lot of people. But we stayed strong.”  

When Jackson landed at UNE to play football for the Nor’easters and pursue a degree in social work, his sights remained squarely focused on becoming a principal who could help kids. But to reach that goal, Jackson would have to make sacrifices to support his education. Through most of college, Jackson worked two jobs while playing football and taking a full course load. At times, he worked nearly 40 hours a week between jobs at Walmart, the UNE Admissions Office, and serving as an area coordinator.  

Jackson’s UNE mentors describe him as a young man who brings a resiliency and uncommon depth of compassion to each day. Cyndi Amato, M.S.W., the program director for UNE’s undergraduate social work program and Jackson’s advisor, said Jackson taught her what compassion looks like in the face of adversity.  

In the 28 years Amato has been a practicing social worker, she’s mentored around 60 budding social workers. Of the brilliant few who brought an unflappable calm to the work, none compared to Jackson, Amato said.  

“He works with kids who have learning and behavioral challenges, and I swear he has a connection with each one of them,” she said. “And he is even keeled. A temper tantrum or a kid who struggles with regulating emotions and acts out? It doesn’t rattle him. That was one of the things that really impressed me. He just does not get rattled.  

“It's not about him,” she added. “It's about meeting these kids where they are and empathizing with what they're going through. That’s a gift.”  

This past year, Jackson worked alongside the resiliency coordinator at Fairfield School in Saco to satisfy the 400-internship hours required for his degree. His mentor at the elementary school, Allison Desjardins, called the connections Jackson built throughout the faculty and student community amazing.   

“He comes in every day with a positive attitude and works hard. There isn’t anything he won't try or won’t do. He has your back, and everyone wants to be around him,” Desjardins said.   

“He’s faced adversity and he’s pretty open about that. As a result, he sees things from a different perspective,” Desjardins added. “Forty percent of the population are at-risk students. He’s been through what they’ve been through."  

Amato said Jackson’s innate empathy is all the more impressive given that he is a Black man going to school in a mostly White state.   

“That's a challenge,” Amato said, then paused for emphasis. “That’s a huge challenge. But, in spite of all that, he's still really hopeful, resilient, and caring.”

In 2023, Jackson faced yet another loss when a close friend and teammate died in a car accident. In the months that followed, Jackson said he struggled.  

He said what got him through those dark days was the support from his friends at UNE, the coaching staff, and head coach Mike Lichten, in particular.

“They took good care of me,” Jackson said. “They checked in on me every single day.” 

That year, Jackson won the Commonwealth Coast Conference’s Perseverance and Achievement Award for a long list of reasons, Lichten said, but chiefly because he proved to be a rare leader who was both a kind, present listener and a fierce, rallying force who lifted others. Lichten said he has no doubt Jackson will use his UNE degree in social work “to make the world a better place.”  

“T.J. has persevered at UNE through all odds and obstacles, all with an incredible sense of purpose, gratitude, and work ethic,” Lichten said. “It would be impossible to describe how proud I am of him and how much I admire his toughness.”   

Following graduation, Jackson hopes to return to the Fairfield School this fall to work as a behavioral health professional. Desjardins said the entire staff encouraged him to apply for the post.  

“Everybody loves him,” Desjardins said. “All the kids love him. All the faculty love him. He walks down the hall and he’s a rock star.”