Tell us about yourself.
I am from Orlando, Florida, and served as an infantryman in the United States Army. I joined the military to be a better role model for my three kids. After my son, Bryson, died, I fell into a deep state of depression where I had no other options, and I could not be a good father figure for my other sons. So, I joined the military to acquire skills that would be useful in the near and far future. A fun fact about me is that I always find a way to make someone smile.
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?
It was an opportunity to see what it was like to be part of something much bigger than myself. I believe WSP is a wonderful program that helps soldiers transition from the military mentality into a student mentality if that is the route that is chosen. My confidence was moderate on the first day of the humanities course at Harvard University. However, on the final day of the course, my confidence was second to none.
What were some key insights you gained during your course, and what is your biggest takeaway?
Key insights I learned were the value of closing loopholes, time management, prioritizing, communicating, being part of a community, and being the best version of myself. My biggest takeaways from this summer were that I am smart enough, it was not a mistake, I am where I am, I am not an imposter, I can achieve anything, and I am worthy enough to be one of the elites.
In one word, how would you describe your overall experience?
Extraordinary!