Voices of The Redoubt: Jada Arredondo, ‘29

Introducing Voices of the Redoubt, a new quarterly series highlighting the students, directors, and staff who make up Washington and Lee’s greatest friends and alumni group! Each feature will share the people and perspectives behind The Generals Redoubt and their dedication to the University’s traditions, principles, and enduring character. Go Generals!

“TGR is much more than an alumni group; it has been one of the most foundational parts of my experience at Washington and Lee.”

~Jada Arredondo, ‘29

At Washington and Lee University, it can sometimes feel as though there are few spaces where students can openly exchange ideas and engage with differing viewpoints. Even when those opportunities arise, many people remain silent out of fear of being wrong, judged, or socially isolated.

Through The Generals Redoubt, I have learned the importance of intellectual courage and the responsibility to foster it in others. One of the projects of which I am most proud was helping to revive the Franklin Society debates. Working with TGR, we helped create a forum where students, alumni, and faculty could challenge one another’s ideas respectfully and thoughtfully.

The goal was never unanimous agreement, but rather to ensure that important conversations could take place openly, honestly, and in good faith. In doing so, we helped revive a tradition long associated with the best of Washington and Lee’s educational experience. I am eager to watch the Franklin Society grow in the semesters to come.

Beyond the debates, TGR’s alumni network provided encouragement, perspective, and opportunities that profoundly influenced my time at Washington and Lee.

One of The Redoubt’s greatest assets is its dedicated alumni base, whose members do everything possible to educate students and help us prepare not only for our time at Washington and Lee but also for life and career beyond graduation.

TGR alumni connected me with individuals who helped my classmates and me reestablish Washington and Lee’s Students for Life chapter. Their mentorship also provided valuable perspective that informed my work as a Bonner Scholar, Residential Advisor, and Business Manager and Treasurer of The W&L Spectator. Through those same connections, I even secured a summer internship in Washington, D.C., with the Madison Coalition.

These experiences encouraged me to take initiative, work alongside others, and pursue opportunities I might never have otherwise considered. In many ways, they helped me discover the path I hope to follow after graduation. For that, I will always be grateful to The Redoubt and the alumni who have invested so generously in my future.