Student Spotlight 2022: Jared Daigrepont, U.S. Navy

Tell us about yourself.

I am from Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, and I enlisted in the Navy as a cryptologic technician interpretive. I decided to join in search of opportunities to learn and grow. A fun fact about myself is that I love learning languages. I’m a certified polyglot, but I have many other hobbies. I’ve played music for over 15 years and now play in my city’s concert band. I also do a lot of camping, hiking, and traveling.  

What was your educational background prior to attending WSP, and which of our courses did you attend?

I attended the STEM and humanities course at the University of Notre Dame. Before attending WSP, I received an associate’s degree in Spanish from the Defense Language Institute. I also had two semesters of community college under my belt.  

Why did you decide to participate in WSP this summer, and was there a shift in your confidence level from the first day of the course to the last day?

I decided to attend WSP for several reasons, primarily to motivate myself for upcoming college applications. However, I didn’t expect the profound boost in confidence I felt from the program. I also really enjoyed all the connections I made with so many motivated and impressive veterans. On the first day of the course, I was definitely nervous, especially for physics, and I had no idea what to expect from the workload. By the final day of the course, I felt I had been sufficiently challenged and inspired, and my confidence in returning to school had never been higher. 

What were some key insights you gained during your courses, and what is your biggest takeaway?

The most important thing I learned is that I am capable of more than I give myself credit for. After having been out of education for a while, I didn’t know how to approach my transition from sailor to full-time student. The WSP program gave me valuable insight into the lifestyle and expectations of a university. I gained tremendous motivation and the confidence to pursue my educational aspirations. I was also incredibly inspired by the impressive array of ambitious veterans I had the pleasure of bonding with during the program.

In one word, how would you describe your overall experience?

Motivating!