Student Spotlight: TJ Fryer, Navy
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is TJ Fryer. I am from Seattle, WA, and I served as an electronic technician in the Navy. I enlisted in the military for independence, opportunity, and adventure! I joined the Navy specifically out of a love for the ocean and respect for my grandfather, a World War 2 Navy veteran who served in the Pacific. Something fun about me is that I love to fish and sail. You’ll catch me trolling for trout from my kayak, or failing to navigate the winds on a little Capri 22.
Did you have any college experience before attending your Warrior-Scholar Project boot camp? Why did you decide to apply?
Before attending Warrior-Scholar Project’s STEM academic boot camp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I had taken a handful of community college courses, changing back and forth from business to engineering prerequisites. I wasn’t sure what major was the right fit. I decided to apply to WSP because I wanted to take some risks to grow this summer and get out of my comfort zone. WSP’s mission excited me to think bigger about my return to college and truly challenge myself.
What were you feeling going into the first day of your boot camp? Did you experience a shift in your confidence as the week progressed?
Going into the first day, I felt a little intimidated by a nearly mythic campus and heavy course load, but was excited to apply myself fully to the experience. Throughout the week, I absolutely experienced a positive shift in my confidence! I had built up STEM in my mind to be something outside of my abilities. I was definitely guilty of a fixed mindset about what I was capable of. Connecting on a human level with students and faculty in their fields of research made STEM programs not only feel possible but also exciting. I left the course making a commitment to myself—I will be the first generation in my family to graduate from college, and I will earn a STEM degree. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard.
What are some of the key takeaways from your boot camp experience? Is there one thing that stood out to you?
I can’t emphasize enough how much the veteran community means to me. I spent the last two years since my separation feeling pretty disconnected. Transitioning back to civilian life was hard, and I felt like I lost a part of myself in the process. At WSP, I felt a real connection with my fellow veterans and service members. I felt like myself again, which I hadn’t felt in a long time. I learned that my community is out there, on campuses around the country. I will make the intentional effort to create the community I’m looking for wherever I go, so no veteran needs to feel like an island to themselves.
I also learned that I didn’t hate math; I just hated uncertainty. Feeling uncertain about a concept can be uncomfortable, but getting comfortable asking for help and collaborating with others can move you past those conceptual snags. Through helping others, you also help yourself. Teaching is the best way to learn, after all. Whether you’re stuck on a ship fixing an engineering casualty at all hours of the night or up past midnight working on a problem set, you learn to embrace the suck. The people you’re with during these times often make them the most memorable. Stay present, work hard, and know it’s worth it.
Most importantly, I learned to trust in myself. Imposter syndrome is real, but I deserve to be wherever I am, and I am smart enough to do whatever I set my mind to.
How would you describe your overall experience?
Make no mistake, this is an academic bootcamp. I was challenged and ended every day exhausted. How they also made it more fun than a childhood summer camp, that’s the real mystery.
Do you have any parting words?
Take some risks, get out of your comfort zone, and seize the opportunities available to you. Warrior Scholar Project is a fantastic resource that more veterans need to be aware of. The experience it offers and the personal insight it provides can completely change the course of your life.