Aldredge's army experience at West Point
What would it be like to attend one of the most prestigious colleges in the country? What does West Point offer that other schools simply can’t? Graham Aldredge aimed to find that out over his summer, where he spent a week at the school.
West Point is one of the top academic schools in the nation. It also doubles as basic training for new army cadets. When asked about why he chose to go to West Point specifically, Aldredge said:
“I’ve wanted to attend since the eighth grade, and have always admired our troops as a kid and aspired to be like them one day. Leadership is a big part of my life and West Point’s main goal is developing and improving one’s skills and qualities, it’s also one of the top academic schools in the country”.
After being accepted into the rigorous camp, Aldredge arrived there and was shuffled off into his living quarters for the week with the other attendees. It was a camp like no other.
“We essentially lived the life of a cadet for a week. It was pretty much a leadership camp that also served as a recruiting camp for West Point. The kids who got into the camp were pretty well vetted already so the school wants many of those kids to end up attending the following year” said Aldredge.
When asked about why he wanted to attend this particular camp and why West Point at all, Aldredge had this to say:
“In eighth grade I attended an informational meeting regarding the academies where a representative from each school came and discussed their respective college. The presentation on West Point was the most bad ass and I knew that I wanted to go there one day”.
Another thing that came up was how it stood out from other camps. Also when asked about what he was worried about from the camp, he had this to say:
“The atmosphere of the place was unlike anything I have experienced before, the campus itself is beautiful, right on the Hudson river. The teachers and current cadets that I got to meet were incredible people and I became close to many of the cadets who play football on the team”.
What he was scared about most, Aldredge said this:
“I was nervous about losing my personality and my individuality if I attended, but after meeting all those people I realized that going there will only help my redeeming qualities shine while eliminating the traits that hold me back”.
Every camper that attended the camp all have the same goal: to end up at West Point. So other than that, what similarities did everyone at the camp have? Aldredge had this to say:
“They were all smart with strong academic portfolios, most were natural leaders who took on many different leadership roles at their respective schools. The majority of the kids who were there were athletically capable as well (some more than others obviously)”.
The daily camp activities and schedule were engaging and tough, but still fun for the campers, they included:
“Started morning with physical training then attended classes until 3; then played various sports or participated in multiple activities. Sports included: football, ultimate frisbee, relays. Activities included: obstacle courses, military training (judo, gymnastics, weapons training, live firing ranges, etc)”
According to Aldredge, the daily life of the camp compared to normal was much different, here is what he had to say:
“It was definitely a different lifestyle compared to regular life, The early wakeups and late nights meant less sleep than usual, There was literally no free time during the day until night time, so we got a ton of stuff crammed into the daily schedule”.
The life of a West Point cadet can be tough, but it was plenty enjoyable for the campers who want to attend there in their future. The early mornings, late nights, and hours upon hours of training and classwork. For those who wish to serve their country it is a small price to pay.
“I guess the one thing that stuck out the most was the value of teamwork and comradery Everything we did, we did in a team with our squad. Most of the time we were working together to solve problems or get through military courses. We bonded over the week to the point where one of the kids I met there is one of my best friends now who lives in Wyoming” Aldredge said.
They bonded over their similarities they shared and formed friendships that will last a lifetime. When asked about the future of West Point and his continuing of his academic career there, Aldredge had this to say:
“Absolutely, I would want to do it again, I learned so much about people and about myself The friendships I made were worth it by themselves, but the camp was a great experience. Yes, hopefully I will hear from the Academy within the next couple of months with an acceptance I definitely want to continue my life as an Army Black Knight”
Aldredge is waiting to hear back from the office of admissions from West Point, but he has high hopes that he will be an Army Black Knight come next Fall.
