Commandant’s Visit An Inspiration For BDJMS Students Considering Coast Guard

Ve’kema Aguirre was first inspired to begin working toward a career in the Coast Guard when cadets from the Coast Guard Academy visited her class. A recent visit by Admiral Robert J. Papp, commandant of the Coast Guard, confirmed the goal for her.

“I was just kind of iffy,” the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School eighth grader said. “So when he told me more about it, it was helpful.”

Papp, a Norwich Free Academy graduate, took part in the announcement of plans for a National Coast Guard Museum in New London on April 5, but stopped in the city the day before to visit other sites. In addition to appearances at the academy and a Habitat for Humanity build site sponsored by academy alumni and constructed by cadets, Papp fielded questions from BDJMS students.

Aguirre said she was curious about everything from what made Papp decide to go into the service to what it was like to wear a uniform so often.

“He was very intelligent,” she said. “Every question I was going to ask he knew the answer to.”

The topics Papp covered included the Coast Guard mission and the travel he has done as part of his duty. The visit was part of a series of seminars in which students meet with personnel from local Coast Guard and Navy sites.

“He said we could be anything you want to be, as long as you put your mind to it,” said student Sarah Sejour.

Kierra Holt said she is interested in pursuing a career in engineering, and that Papp’s visit made her give more consideration to including the Coast Guard in her plans.

“I was very interested in it before he came, but after he came he said very descriptive things that made you interested in it,” she said.

Mykell Brownlee and Nakwon Keith said Papp’s story of a Coast Guard member who gave his life to rescue two people had a strong effect on them.

“I want to do something like that, but I don’t want to die,” said Keith.

“I think I just want to save people,” said Brownlee.

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