Senior Spotlight: Jeancarlo “JC” Siles ’20

Jeancarlo “JC” Siles ’20
Hometown: Fairfax
Major: Psychology; minor in sociology
Next Steps: Job searching and taking a gap year before pursuing a master’s degree

I always knew that I wanted to continue playing rugby after high school. When I began playing at Longwood I knew that I wanted to eventually lead the team. For the past two years, I did just that as president of the Men’s Rugby Club. I met some of my best friends through rugby and I am grateful to be a part of Longwood’s growing rugby community. One of my best memories is when I won the Todd Miller Memorial Scholarship in 2018. My mom and I got to meet Todd’s mother on the day of the annual tournament that’s held in his honor. It was a really proud and humbling experience.

Professor Mary Carroll-Hackett from the English department is one of my mentors. She introduced to me so many other staff and professors and helped to grow my confidence in networking. My parents never completed their education beyond high school, so the process of applying to graduate schools was very new to me. She taught me how to navigate that as well as how to create the most effective personal statement that fits my identity. 

Recently I have been very involved with efforts to support fellow first-generation college students at Longwood. I was the first student invited to be a member of the First-Generation Student Success Working Group. This happened as a result of a proposal I wrote for my English 400 class that discussed programs for first-generation students in Northern Virginia and proposed a program for Longwood students. That was the genesis of First Lancers Connect, the first student-led organization focused on the needs of first-generation students. These experiences gave me more confidence in myself and made me feel like I can make a difference.

I plan to pursue a master’s degree in mental health counseling but I am currently taking a gap year and job hunting. The thing I will miss the most at Longwood is the people, absolutely the people. I’ve met some of the most genuine and wholesome people here—definitely some of my friends for life.