My first visit to the Naval Academy was on family trip while in grammar school. On this and subsequent visits, the young men and women who chose to devote their lives to country and service greatly impressed me. As a high school student, I had the good fortune to experience Academy life via my acceptance to the competitive Summer STEM program, my invitation to Candidate Visit Weekend, and my participation in the Elite Throws Sports Camp. Through these first-hand experiences, I grew in awareness and commitment to an Academy education as an opportunity to enable me to serve my country. Moreover, I am honored to be a member of a gold star family, via my uncle Senior Master Sergeant Peter Bondi, recently deceased on active duty, and to have had a grandfather who served in the National Guard. Eulogies delivered for my Uncle Peter reflected a life of service and were a source of inspiration that fueled my resolve to serve. …show more content…
I am the beneficiary of the freedom our country affords its citizens and the aspirations of my immigrant grandparents and their children. The passage from Luke 12:48 ‘to whom much is given, much will be required’ is a credo that rings true. Our country has enabled me an education and other opportunities others don’t as readily have access to. Consequently, I can think of no better way to carry it forward than to elect a career in military service. In particular, via exploration of options, I identify strongly with the culture, tradition and career paths offered by the Navy, the only branch of service I am pursuing. Travis Manion’s motto ‘If not me, then who’ represents my fervent belief that it is my duty and privilege to
Laying down one’s life for another, putting personal convenience aside for the safety and security of our country and our citizens, is the business of daily military service that is not just demonstrated during times of open conflict and battle. Service on mission teams in underserved areas of our country, where citizens are in need of basic human support and assistance, taught me that true service requires no individual glory. One of our greatest strengths as a nation continues to come from the indomitable spirit of our citizens. As a Christian, I believe in the sanctity of life therefore, as a soldier I will be mindful of the lives of those serving with me. As an officer, I understand that one day I may have to call soldiers into combat however, as a West Point graduate and a Christian I will never do so thoughtlessly. As the namesake of a patriotic and courageous soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in his service to our state and our country, I was raised with the sacred awareness that accompanies the call of duty. For all of the reasons herein, I am uniquely worthy to be a nominee from South
“It has been so long ago I can hardly remember any experiences, what I can remember is thinking my youth was being left behind” Mr. Johnson replied after being asked to describe his experiences at Navy boot camp. He also stated that he learned very quickly to take care of himself, and was given a lot more responsibility than he was accustomed to in previous years. He believes that is aspect of youth and responsibility makes the military such a good option for young adults. It leaves the parents behind from a reliance standpoint and gives members the tools to succeed and be responsible in so many various
I had originally thought higher education and military service were mutually exclusive until I learned about the top level education provided at the various officer academies. I highly value knowledge and intellect and have always strived to distinguish myself from others in the areas of mathematics and science. I believe that the Naval Academy will provide me a an excellent learning environment with other cadets that also value education, hard work, and moral integrity. The academy also gives me an opportunity to become a commissioned Naval Officer. Becoming a Naval Officer and serving the country in the U.S. Navy will help me become a more knowledgeable and stronger individual, allow me protect this country while honoring all the men and women who have served in this nation's military since 1775, and making sure this country’s veteran’s sacrifices were not in
Graduating third in his high school class, he was heavily involved in the community, an outstanding member of the Sea Cadets and eventually graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. From a young age he was very determined in setting and achieving his goals, and upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Marines. Since I was born, I have treasured my relationship with my uncle. As I grew up, I made some of my best memories with my uncle, almost as if he were a big brother to me. To this day, I have always tried to emulate his outgoing personality and the positivity that he portrays to the
I am thrilled to be attending UW-River Falls in the fall. There are so many experiences I wish to explore while attending. I feel there is a lot I can bring to the campus and very excited to get to know new people. My mom is an optometrist which has sparked an interest for me to become an ophthalmologist. I know becoming a medical professional is not an easy task, but I am sure I can do it if I work hard enough.
In September, I had the opportunity to visit the Naval Academy for a “Candidate Visit Weekend.” During my two-night visit, I was paired with a current midshipman, whom I accompanied to classes, meals, and a sports practice. Personally experiencing daily life at the Academy and meeting current midshipmen has reinforced my desire to join their ranks. The most inspiring thing about the midshipmen I met was the effort that they put into succeeding. Being a part of this culture, even for two days, has shown me that I can work just a little harder, and that I can push myself just a little further. Since returning home, I have done just that in numerous ways.
Once a Marine always a Marine. Growing up I had many success stories around me. It was very inspirational and this set the example for my future. Now it is my time to carry on the legacy. Having the support that I receive from my parents and family is important, especially when I am away from them for long periods. Sometimes it is hard to understand how important family is on one’s achievements. However, when you do not have them on a daily basis, it is hard not to realize this impact.
My background is a military one, that is riddled with fighting, leaving home, and death. “Sempre Fi” has always been a common household saying in my mother's family, considering her two older brothers were US Marines. When I was a little girl, my uncles were deported to the Gulf of Mexico to fight in Desert Storm, and that was a terrifying point in my youth life. On my father’s side, the Air Force was the branch our family adored. My great grandfather was a pilot and so was my grandfather. To this day, my grandfather is my hero but unfortunately died early due to pancreatic cancer. Flying and the water have always run through my blood and always will. The Navy was the one branch that I could combine my love for flight and water into one.
No matter how bothersome it was when my parents got on my back for not saying “Yes ma'am” or “No sir,” I now realize they were teaching me responsibility, integrity, respect, and leadership.When I pinned my mother's rank of Master Sergeant to her shoulder it instilled a sense of pride in my family. We earned that insignia alongside her through all of our sacrifices over the years. My inclination towards engineering and flying is reflective of the dedication and pride my family has set before me. Between my mother who would arrive home late due to her six-hour commute and my cousin who depended on my family while his parents served in Afghanistan, I learned what it meant to be selfless. These members of my family, these role models, show me every day what it means to put service before self. These are the footsteps I aspire to follow
From a young age, my interest in the world around me was apparent in my love for history. I could never get bored of learning about the formation of the United States government or either of the World Wars. Unlike most children, my love for history was nourished each summer with travels to countries like Germany and Italy. I still remember running around at eleven years old with an informational headset in the Coliseum in Rome acting as a guide to my family. As an American with German and Italian roots, Europe has always held a special place in my heart. It was this love of history that led me to my interest in politics. In my junior year of high school I attended my first Model United Nations Conference at Hofstra University where I was thrown
Serving back to a country that has allowed me to become the person I am today, is the least I could do in return. As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, I came to the United States with goals of becoming great and successful. The opportunity that has been offer to me to attend the Naval Academy preparatory is a dream come true. Since a young age, I’ve always being fascinated with planes and the way they carry themselves through the air as if nothing.
My goal in attending the United States Naval Academy and becoming an officer in the Navy is to provide myself ample opportunities to reach my established life goals. I plan to pursue a career in aerospace engineering, and developing that career through the Naval Academy will help me to achieve the dreams I have had since childhood. The character and integrity I have developed through life experiences will aid me in reaching these goals and while attending the Naval Academy. I decided early on in High School that my goal was to attend college for a degree in aerospace engineering, moving on to work as an engineer. When I was very young, I read all types of books on planes.
I have desired to attend the United States Naval Academy since I was a young man viewing the USS Wisconsin. The vast expanse of the deck overwhelmed my eyes and left an impression on me. It is the duty, honor, and loyalty of those who came before me that gives me a desire to serve also. I strive to face challenges in life that will force me to confront difficult situations. The United States Naval Academy, I trust, will guide me in learning responsibility and leadership. I began to develop these traits so that my peers and my colleagues would see these growing in me and understand I was serious about my dedication to attending the academy. There have been many along the way who did not believe I could stay focused and determined to achieve
I was in the second grade when I decided that I wanted to be a Marine. It was the television show World War II in Colour that first captured my interest, especially the moments of the island hopping campaign in the Pacific. Upon learning of my interest in the Marine Corps, a teacher from my school, who had a son attending the Naval Academy, gave my family and I the opportunity to attend a Navy football game against the Air Force Academy. After excitedly watching the Midshipmen defeat the Cadets, I decided that I wanted to attend the Naval Academy. Over the next ten years, I worked hard to achieve my goal, attending the Candidate Visit Weekend, playing baseball at a camp, and receiving a nomination from a Senator. But after ten years of working
The clock ticked away, and the time to face the inevitable had arrived. I was twenty-one years old when I stepped into the Navy recruiter’s office. I was set on a speedy course to find a field for me in the military, and soon I was on a plane towards Great Lakes, Illinois. One month exactly had passed, from when I signed my contract to when I stepped into the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes. When I trained in boot camp, I had been introduced to new values and beliefs.