During my four years at the Academy, I was part of...

During my four years at the Academy, I was part of many different activities. I did three sports a year all four years. I did football in the fall, wrestling in the winter and track and field in the spring. I was also a part of a few different clubs. The Navy-Marine Club, National Honor Society and Key Club made up my volunteer and academic clubs. For all four years, I was a member of the High School Marching band where I was a percussionist. In the JROTC program, I was put in a variety of leadership positions. My senior year I was one of the highest ranking cadets on campus as a Cadet Captain. My position, as the Public Relations officer, required me to work closely with the marketing and development departments as part of my day to day life.

The attention that the teachers would give you if you needed it was phenomenal and very helpful. The average class size is about 15 students per every one teacher. There are a wide variety of classes for students to choose from. Different Advanced Placement and Honors courses are available to students if they are interested in that. The environment is very competitive but friendly at the same time. Other students are always willing to help you if you struggling in a particular class.

The athletic program at the Academy is very strong. Cadets are encouraged to play at least one sport a year. If they are not currently in a sport they have to do Physical Training instead of a sport. As with the teachers, the coaches are there to give individualized attention to cadet-athletes. With this being a small school, any cadet can pick a sport and participate in it without any problems. I picked up wrestling my freshman year and was taught well by my coaches and kept it up for all four years here. The Academy offers many sports. Football, water polo and cross country in the fall. Basketball, wrestling and soccer in the winter. Baseball, golf, tennis, swimming and track and field in spring.

I was only a boarding student during my senior year. I enjoyed it much more than going home on a daily basis. The rooms are set up sort of like a college dorm. A bed with a desk under it with a desk light, closet space for uniforms, and a set of dresser drawers that can be locked. Rooms are assigned, for new students, according to each cadet s interests and preferences. Returners are allowed to pick their roommate as long as the choice is approved by the Commandant and Residential life officer. If there is a problem with a roommate, arrangements can be made for students to transfer rooms.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time at the Academy. It prepared me for the real world.