Discovering Home: Laëtitia Raoult’s ’27 4,000-Mile Journey to Valpo
Valpo student-athlete Laëtitia Raoult ’27 may not have begun her college journey at Valpo — or even in the United States — but she’s always been a Beacon at heart. Her experience both as a transfer and international student serves as a telltale testament to resilience and admirable humility, drawn from her home in Guingamp, France, to the impact Laëtitia has already made on our campus community.
The start of Laëtitia’s college experience began back in her home country; attending school in the U.S. wasn’t even on the radar. But when she enrolled in a French university, she began to receive recruitment emails from track and cross country coaches across the country. “I thought it was a trap,” Laëtitia recalls, laughing at the memory. “I just couldn’t believe it. But then it all started to become real.” It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she couldn’t refuse.
Coming from a family of seasoned runners, Laëtitia was always destined for athletic success. She began training at just 12 years old and, by 18, was competing in the French Ugsel Championship. “I knew that running was something I wanted to do forever,” she recalls with pride. “But in France, universities do not have athletic teams, and athletes are expected to stop playing sports after high school… Here, I can keep doing what I love. I can see how far I can go, how fast I can run, and set goals for myself.”
Her passion for running connected her with U.S. coaches and, after weighing her options, she eventually chose to attend Florida International University in Miami — her first step into America and the world of collegiate athletics.
Though Laëtitia was excited to live her dream as a runner, her arrival soon brought on a new set of challenges. As one can imagine, being an ocean away from family, friends, pets, and the comforting familiarity of French cuisine is a test words alone cannot describe. “In just one day, your life is changed. No one is speaking your language. Your family is living life at a seven-hour difference from you. You’re just lost for a little while,” Laëtitia says. On top of adapting to a new cultural environment, her initial experiences in university were disheartening, as she encountered other transfer students who struggled to find their place within the athletics program. “At that point, I was considering simply going back home,” she admits, but her passion for running ignited her determination to transfer instead.
In a sea of new recruitment emails, one in particular stood out: an invitation from Valpo Athletics’ own Coach Vincent Walker. “This email was very different. He wasn’t expecting anything from me; he just wanted to know who I was and what I liked to do. I ended up coming here without really knowing anything about Valpo — just that it’s a Lutheran school, a smaller community, and has a good exercise science program,” Laëtitia shares. Looking back, she considers this leap of faith one of the best decisions she has ever made. “Last year was really hard because it was my first time in the U.S. and I was stuck in a very different mindset. Here, I’ve been able to build a routine and a kind of family. It feels like home.”
Since transferring to Valpo, Laëtitia says her experience on the track and as a student-athlete has been transformative. “There is no competition between teammates — just support. We’re like a huge family inside,” she notes, emphasizing the camaraderie and encouragement that define her team dynamic. Just a few months into the semester, and she’s already made a name for herself. She recently clocked a personal record of 21:31 at a meet in Missouri and crossed the finish line at 18:14.01 in the 5K race at the University of Notre Dame’s Joe Piane Invitational – ranking ninth in program history. And she still has two more seasons left to compete!
With Laëtitia’s success comes the student-athlete grind, making support from Valpo’s faculty and College of Nursing and Health Professions a priceless asset on her journey. She finds solace in speaking the language of home with her French professors, connecting through the universal language of numbers and science, and pursuing her career in athletic training through our exercise science program. With aspirations of attending medical school, she hopes to shine a light on the joy that’s found in sports — especially back home. “Athletics isn’t a major value in France, but I’d like to see that change,” she says.
Looking ahead, Laëtitia is eager to embrace all that Valpo has to offer, from celebrating her upcoming birthday in the snow to exploring downtown Valparaiso with friends. “I love that everything is… not small, but close to each other,” she says. The sense of community and connection she feels is palpable. “Even the professors know my name; they remember you from day one.” Her advice to prospective transfer students and international students alike rings true: “Don’t try to change other people and don’t change yourself,” she advises. “You’ll find that place where you don’t have to. You’ll find that place here.”We’re so proud to be a home-away-from-home for Laëtitia as she discovers her joy. Her transformative story serves as a beacon for those who are navigating their own journeys and inspires empathy across our campus community. To learn more about transfer opportunities, resources, and support, please visit valpo.edu/transfer.
