Student Spotlight: Kevin Reyes, USMC

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am Keving Reyes from Simi Valley, CA, and I served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. I went to college after high school because it seemed like the right path to follow, but at that time, I felt that furthering my education wasn’t something I was meant for. Instead, I decided to look into a career in law enforcement. A recruiter convinced me (of course) that a military background would look great on a resume. One unique fact about myself is that I, unfortunately, enjoy downhill mountain biking a little too much to the point where I’ve taken a few tumbles and have a separated AC joint.

Did you attend college before our humanities and business course at the University of Notre Dame, and why did you decide to take time out of your summer to participate in Warrior-Scholar Project?

I attended nearly two years of community college as a business major before participating in Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP). WSP was recommended by a close friend who happened to be working as a fellow (peer mentor) this past summer. He explained how the course opened his eyes to the possibilities that veterans have within education and how it provided him the confidence to aim higher.

Tell us a little bit about how you felt going into your first academic boot camp and whether you had a shift in confidence.

Well, my flight was delayed a whole day, so as a veteran, I felt like I was already in trouble even before I stepped on campus. My mind was quickly eased as I communicated with the WSP staff. They were beyond helpful and understanding. After that, the only feelings I had were curiosity and excitement as I was about to experience life as a student at such a notorious university, the University of Notre Dame.

There was most definitely a shift in my confidence, even before the final day of the course. Throughout the boot camp, I constantly interacted with other veterans who were attending prestigious universities, which gave me the confidence to aim higher than I had originally planned. It felt great acknowledging that being a veteran meant something in an academic setting. Traits as simple as being accountable and organized go a long way, which is something I certainly undervalued.

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

As veterans, sometimes we underestimate our worth outside of the military. Warrior-Scholar Project allows you to understand how your values and experience can translate to your education and into a professional setting. One lesson I took from this experience is the number of connections within the WSP network and how much everyone is willing to help each other. Networking is a big part of your education and career, and WSP is a great place to start for veterans.

The most important thing I learned was how to step out of my comfort zone. Before participating in WSP, I was certainly not a fan of public speaking. Throughout the business week, we had an amazing instructor who was able to ease our nerves along the way by providing feedback, encouragement, and examples. Through a lot of effort and practice with other students, I was able to successfully give a presentation.

How would you sum up your #WSPExperience?

I wanted to bang my head against the desk, but it was a surreal experience. Nothing in my life alluded to me having an opportunity like this, and I would never have considered applying to top-tier universities before this.