For Lauren Jagst, life is all about making personal connections.
Jagst, a sophomore on the Roberts Wesleyan University women's volleyball team, enjoys the relationships that she has been able to build with her teammates and has flourished academically on Roberts' close-knit campus.
A native of Brighton, Michigan, Jagst carries a 3.97 GPA in criminal justice and has been named Roberts' Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month for October.
Jagst took a few moments to discuss life as a student-athlete at Roberts. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
How did you get into volleyball?
"My mom (Deirdre) played volleyball when she was in college and I have two little sisters (Megan and Olivia), too, so ever since we were little she was like 'Try it, try it.' I started playing in fourth grade with my mom as my coach, of course, and I really just found a love for it and the team connection being out on the court."
What is your favorite part of volleyball?
"I would say the emotional aspect and getting to play with your teammates. It's the best feeling in the world to win a game and know that every single person on your team is excited for it because it is a team sport and every single person makes a difference."
What does it feel like when you make a successful kill?
"First of all, I always say 'thank you' to the setters who are so good, especially here. Personally, I am just so excited because it is a point for the team and you hope that it will push our momentum forward so we can come out with a win."
What do you like most about the Roberts community?
"The thing that I like most is that it is a family-based community. Everyone knows each other, especially within athletics, and everyone is rooting for you. … I also really like that my professors know my name. I don't think that I would do as well if I was in a huge lecture hall with tons of kids and the professor has no idea who you are."
How do you handle your academic and athletic responsibilities?
"I think the best way to balance it is to be really on top of your timetable and your schedule. I have a planner and I write everything down, so I know that have to this before practice and I have this for tomorrow. I just block out those time slots so that I am not doing everything at one time and feeling stressed out."
Your family moved to Switzerland for three years when you were in middle school. How did living in another country help you adapt to some of the changes you faced when you came to college?
"I think it really helped me with the cultural perspective and understanding the differences in other people. I came from a small town and I feel that if I hadn't lived abroad that it would have been harder and it would have been harder to leave my family. … From that I did learn how to be away from home and be independent, and that is something that I have always valued is my independence."
What was it like playing volleyball in Switzerland?
"I think that is really where I found a love for volleyball because it was so different. It's where I feel like I learned the fun part of the game and I think that is the first part in being able to enjoy it is when you also have fun."
How did you become interested in criminal justice?
"Really, it started from TV shows. I would watch Law and Order and Criminal Minds with my mom when I was little and then I took a criminology class in high school and I was like, 'Wait, I really like this. This is very interesting.' When I like to learn about something it makes it so much more fun, so I was like, 'This is probably it.'"
Do you have a favorite course or a favorite professor at Roberts?
"My favorite professor is Kirby Trask, he is chair of the criminal justice department. His classes are so interesting and he makes them so fun to learn in his discussions and lectures which I really enjoy. He is so personal and he is so good with the students."
Do you have a dream job?
"I am not entirely sure. Maybe something like criminal psychologist or forensic psychologist that works with and helps people.
