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| SaVaughna John-Baptiste |
For SaVaughna John-Baptiste, attending college was always in the cards due to the importance of education in her family. She always knew earning a bachelor’s degree was expected of her and felt encouraged to pursue higher education. That said, the now senior Agriculture major has no doubt that UVI was the right path for her.
“I found myself a lot in UVI. The college experience itself is something I would recommend many people experience. You get a taste of what it’s like to control your schedule, manage new responsibilities, and meet new people.”
Transitioning to college was a bit difficult, as her freshman year at UVI took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. John-Baptiste had to take online classes for her first year, missing out on much of the traditional social aspect of college life.
“I couldn’t wait to go in person to meet people and see how different it’ll be,” she says.
On the academic side of things, she explained that the transition was also difficult, as she had to learn to be responsible for herself and adjust to college expectations.
“There are no parent-teacher meetings, and you have to be responsible for yourself,” she says. “If you missed that deadline, it was all up to the professor.”
Throughout her years at UVI, SaVaughna notes that she has certainly changed in several ways. Perhaps no change was more significant than her growth in public speaking and confidence.
“I was not very social, and I did not like public speaking. When I had to take Public Speaking, I was very, very reluctant. But I would say that it opened my shell more. I joined the Student Government Association (SGA), and I had to interact with almost everybody online.”
SaVaughna has served as the Student Government Association’s (SGA) treasurer, a role that has greatly helped to develop her leadership skills at UVI. Despite once being very closed off, she was able to push through the discomfort and flourish in a position that has benefited both herself and the university.
Now preparing to graduate, she is leaving behind a lasting legacy of her own, marked by a long list of achievements. Among them are participation in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute, internships at institutions such as Michigan State University, and earning a place on the Dean’s List every semester for the past three years — a testament to her academic excellence and determination.
John-Baptiste will also serve as the Class of 2026 student speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus (St. Croix) and will graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, underscoring both her academic success and leadership throughout her time at UVI.
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“I think there are many opportunities students know about or take advantage of because they don’t all look into it, but they’re there. I would say traveling is a big one, as there were a lot of opportunities to go off island.”
As she looks beyond life at UVI, she plans to take a year off to work before attending graduate school, with the ultimate goal of earning her Ph.D. and returning to the territory to teach.
Looking back at her experience at UVI, the one word she uses to describe it is “growth.” Beginning her time at UVI as someone who was in a shell and unsure of what to expect, she managed to discover new parts of herself that have allowed her to thrive in her community.
“I found myself a lot in UVI,” she says. “It helped me come out of my shell and become someone who is more confident and willing to step outside of my comfort zone.”
As she prepares to graduate, SaVaughna leaves UVI not only with academic accomplishments and leadership experience but also with a clearer sense of self and purpose — a journey she describes in one word: growth.
