Lauryn Jeans ’22 came to CMC from Evergreen, Colo. to compete for athletics. But when she received an out-of-nowhere email from the ROTC program, she felt it was fate.
What followed were countless early-morning fitness runs, as well as cleanings, inspections, classes, field exercises, and more – plus studies for a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a season starting for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s soccer team, highlighted by the clinching shootout kick to put the Athenas into the sectionals of the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship.
“I would be lying if I said it was easy. It was probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done,” said Jeans, who credited the Army Warrior ethos to overcome adversity and power through.
Now a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jeans said that she takes time on Veterans Day to “reflect and remember the heroism of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and died for our country. The heroism of their sacrifice motivates me to lead with integrity, honor, and courage as an Officer in the Army.”
Here, Jeans expands upon the leadership lessons she learned at CMC.
How did your time at CMC prepare you for your career?
CMC taught me valuable skills in time management and leadership. I learned how to prioritize my time in an effective manner that allowed me to deal with stressful classes in a healthy and productive manner. My CMC leadership sequence personally helped me develop my own leadership framework that I use every day in my career in the Army.
What were some of your favorite experiences while at CMC?
My favorite moment from CMC was right after the CMS Women's Soccer team won our NCAA game against Cal Lutheran pushing us into the round of 16 in the Fall of 2019. The team spent the entire bus ride back to CMC playing music, dancing, and celebrating our hard-fought win.
I went on an Outdoor Initiative Club trip during my Senior year fall break where I backpacked alongside 15 other people across Yosemite. While not everything went to plan during that trip, I had a blast exploring the outdoors with fellow CMCers.
Do you have any mentors from your time at CMC?
The CMS Sports Medicine Department were huge mentors for me while I worked for them. Not only did I learn how to work as an Athletic Training Aide, but they also taught me valuable skills in dependability, persistence, and adaptability.
I also had several mentors in the CMC Military Science Department, including CPT Pauline Ovalle (assistant professor of military science) and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hayden (professor of military science and department chair) who provided me with invaluable career and Army-related advice during my time in ROTC.
How did your senior thesis impact you personally or professionally?
My biology thesis centered around flock structures of White-Crowned Sparrows. I academically grew the most during my thesis. I made huge strides in my process of data collection, my data analysis, and my overall writing ability to put out a thesis that I was proud of. And while I had huge challenges that I had to overcome, I learned more from those obstacles than I had over my entire college career.
How would you describe the CMC community?
The CMC community is hard-working, ambitious, and resourceful. CMCers are natural problem-solvers who always strive for the next opportunity and the next challenge.
Why is it important for you to be involved at CMC?
I think it all comes back to the idea of paying it forward. I wish to remain connected to the CMC community in order to give back to a college that provided me with so many opportunities throughout my career. In addition, the alumni network of CMC has helped me out in several situations, and I am excited to provide resources for CMC students in the future.