Senior Katrina Mecklenburg will tell you, the reason someone goes into the U.S. Military Academy and the reason they stay are often different. When the Cathedral Catholic alumna got into West Point, she wanted to go because she knew it was something she might regret if she didn’t — she didn’t want to look back and wonder what kind of person it would’ve made her.
“Why I stayed? All of the unknowns were validated. I saw I became a better person, I loved the training that I was doing, and now I’m at a point where I can’t wait to graduate and I can’t wait to be in the Army and start out as an officer. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else,” said Mecklenburg, 21.
“I went from zero percent military knowledge to now holding the highest position you can hold, being the captain of the cross country team, doing well academically and basically succeeding at West Point — and there’s not anything extraordinary or special about me except that I work hard,” Mecklenburg said. “It just shows if you’re willing to work hard, if you put in the effort, you’ll come out a stronger, better person.” Read More