Jaden-Alex Walrond only recently turned 18 but he is very sure about the path he has embarked on to become an actuary.
The former Berkeley Institute deputy head boy, who is already on his way to earning an actuarial science degree at St John’s University in New York, didn’t miss a beat when asked if mathematics was always his strong suit.
“I did very well in all of the academic realms, but mathematics had to be my favourite, from when I was a little boy,” he grinned.
“I love math. I love math so much. I love how math is very definitive.”
Happily, his passion for mathematics is matched by his ability with numbers and a rock-solid work ethic.
He decided he wanted to be an actuary after guidance from a careers adviser at Whitney Institute Middle School.
Then, after two years at Berkeley, he passed an exam enabling him to join the school’s dual enrolment programme with Bermuda College.
The teenager juggled classes between the two campuses, ultimately graduating in May last year with an associate degree in actuarial science, a month before he received his high school diploma.
He also factored in church commitments, prefect duties, Berkeley’s drum line and a part-time job with Hiscox insurance company.
“It was difficult,” Mr Waldron admitted, of embarking on degree-level studies while still a schoolboy.
“Any new challenge comes with these difficulties, but the biggest thing for me in managing the difficulty and increased intensity was really just learning to manage my time very well.”
He added: “Honestly, I would say it was nothing but the support of my family, my church community and God Himself and His grace and mercy that got me through that entire period.”
Staying grounded
Mr Waldron described “many sleepless nights, many stressed-out days” and how “many friendships were tested”.
But he said his faith kept him grounded and Berkeley’s motto — respice finem or keep the end in view — was an inspiration.
“I know it’s a bit corny using my school’s motto like that,” he said. “But that motto is there for a reason because if you don’t keep that end in view, you will forget why you even started.
“Motivation is a big factor in staying the course.”
Mr Waldron’s academic prowess, along with his dedication and focus, impressed his college lecturers, particularly economics professor Craig Simmons, who was “very instrumental” in telling him about the insurance industry and advising him on future university studies.
He recalled attending a college fair in late 2024, approaching the stand for St John’s University and being “shocked” to discover that staff there already knew about him, thanks to a heads-up from Mr Simmons.
“So they immediately said ‘get your application in and we’re prepared to offer you a scholarship’. I got in and I guess that’s where the real brunt of the journey began.”
Mr Waldron so impressed St John’s University that it offered him a four-year scholarship, worth $36,000 a year, to complete his undergraduate studies and potentially follow them with a one-year Master of Finance degree.
He also received scholarships from the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies, the Association of Bermuda International Companies, the Elliot Primary School Alumni Board, the PwC Head Start programme and a Belco Mathematics Award. His church, Heritage Worship Centre, also gave financial support.
“I’m grateful, very, very grateful,” he said.
Sheer joy
His favourite story about his journey is when the acceptance letter from St John’s arrived.
“I was checking my e-mail maybe five times every single day waiting for this letter and when it finally came through, with the scholarship offer, I screamed so loudly and I remember I ran to my mother’s room and I showed her.
“We almost cried because we were so happy that these steps were being ordered by God and everything was falling directly into line.”
He adds: “Then the reality kind of set in, maybe about a month later that, my goodness, I’m going to be living in New York City.
“Prior to that, I had never been to New York City or even New York State.”
After a full-time internship at Hiscox over the summer, Mr Waldron moved to the Big Apple last August, at the tender age of 17.
He said: “It was a bit overwhelming at first, especially … when the reality started setting in that I was going to be out here on my own … It was just going to be me.”
His mom, aunt and sister accompanied him there to help him settle in and he remembers vividly the moment they left.
“As soon as they turned the corner and they were out of my sight, I broke down in tears because this was my first time away from home, away from family in a big, scary environment where there’s probably at least ten times the population of my community.”
Thanks to his associate degree, he entered the second year of his four-year bachelor’s degree programme.
The university campus, where Mr Waldron lives, is on Union Turnpike in Queens, and he has a short walk to classes.
He loves city life and has become good friends with his three roommates.
“It’s such a big city and big environment but most of the faculty that I’ve met here have been so warm and welcoming and you just feel like you joined one big family,” he said.
“I haven’t really been here a full year yet, but St John’s is a lovely school, a very family-oriented community, very warm, very fun, very active.”
Once again, he is juggling a busy workload and extracurricular activities, but his grade-point average is where it needs to be and he has found a welcoming nearby Caribbean church.
He credits the Bermuda College programme with teaching him organisational skills and encourages others to consider it.
Although he loves New York, he looks forward to one day having a career in insurance back on island.
“Bermuda is going to be my home forever,” he says. “There’s nothing like home.”
