Physics, Teach STEM graduate to serve as U.S. Navy instructor on his way to a PhD

Growing up in Haiti, Christian Laurent struggled to see where his future might be headed, until one day when he was 14, he and his friends found a box of magnets.

“I remember we had these magnets, and we would conduct our own little experiments with them,” he said. “It got me excited to the point where I went and picked up my first textbook to start reading about magnetism. That led me to a cool project where I got to see the lines of the magnetic field in my own home, and I remember in that moment knowing what I was going to do with my life.”

Soon after moving to the U.S. in 2017, Laurent began pursuing a degree in physics at Highline Community College in Des Moines, but he found himself struggling to maintain momentum. It was around then that he heard about the Teach STEM program at Central Washington University.

“The thing that first attracted me to CWU was the teaching program,” he said. “I was only working towards a physics degree, and I was really interested in teaching that, so being able to get both a license and experience integrated into my degree has been huge for me.”

Once he made the move to CWU, things started to line up for Laurent. Upon arriving in Ellensburg, he embraced his new environment with a reignited passion for his field.

“I was struggling where I was at to keep a good grade, so coming to Ellensburg, I was hoping to work on both my self-esteem and my self-discipline,” he recalled. “Here, I’ve been able to stay focused on developing as a person, and as a future teacher. I’ve met a lot of great people, and the faculty has been so helpful.”

Transferring in as a junior, Laurent was both surprised and excited to find that he would be able to experience university-level research from the moment he arrived on campus.

“I thought research was something that I wouldn’t get to do until graduate school,” he said. “Then I learned that participating in research is actually a requirement for physics majors here, and I got to do some in my very first quarter at CWU, which I was so excited about. So far, I’ve participated in two different research experiences, which has given me great experience.”

To complement his Teach STEM degree, Laurent joined the McNair Scholars program as a way of setting himself up for success on his way to a PhD.

“If you feel like you might want a master’s or a PhD, they help you and give you opportunity and resources to do research and prepare for that,” he said. “I learned about McNair at Spring Preview Day, so I’m really glad I went.”

Every step of Laurent’s journey through his undergraduate degree programs has been marked by resources he never knew he qualified for.

“There’s a lot of resources out there for first-generation students like me,” he said. “It can be hard to feel like you deserve them, but applying is easy, and you would be surprised at just how much is available for you.”

While a PhD remains his ultimate goal, Laurent is taking time after graduation to work as a Nuclear Power Unit Training Instructor with the U.S. Navy, teaching sailors all about the nuclear fission units that propel ships and submarines. The experience will help him gain even more teaching experience while, at the same time, being exposed to a broad variety of PhD programs.

“Afterwards, the Navy has a bunch of great opportunities to pursue further education, which I’m going to take advantage of,” Laurent said. “That’s my path to a PhD.”

Looking back at his time as a Wildcat, Laurent is grateful for the time he spent connecting with his instructors and peers.

“Whatever your program is, don’t be a stranger,” he said. “Go to those office hours and connect with your faculty. Whenever I was unsure about something, I just talked to them, and they gave me the insight I was looking for. They can even connect you with faculty at other schools and help you expand your network.”