Student Spotlight: Elizabeth Watts, U.S. Army

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Elizabeth Watts, and I served as a multimedia illustrator in the United States Army. I joined the military because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life after I graduated high school, so I decided to serve my country. I volunteer at my local forest preserve in the native plant garden, and I also am a card-carrying fungus monitor.

Did you attend college before our STEM course at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and why did you decide to take time out of your summer to participate in Warrior-Scholar Project?

I had just begun my degree before attending Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP). I made my way through a few prerequisite classes but was unsure how to progress. I applied to WSP because I love STEM and education. I knew that by attending an academic boot camp, I would gain a whole new perspective on higher education for veterans and that WSP would be a great opportunity to meet new people and explore new avenues.

Tell us a little bit about what you were feeling going into your first academic boot camp.

Confident! I am always hungry for more education. The pre-course briefings were thorough, and I knew the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wouldn’t let me down. After arriving, I had a few meals with my cohort members, and they were all great people. I was so excited.

What are some lessons or key concepts you took away from this course?

Any problem can be untangled. The first step is to lay out all the knowns and unknowns, then pick your formula. From there, all you have to do is take each step as they appear. I also learned about all of the resources available to veterans who would like to pursue higher education. As long as one plans well and pays attention, the road will stay clear.

How would you sum up your #WSPExperience?

The course was certainly an academic crucible. I knew that if I wasn’t humbled at least a few times a day, I wasn’t doing it right. I left feeling like I had a lot of work to do, but ready to do it. The program was magical. I felt inspired by the campus, my cohorts, my fellows, and every place we toured.