WestPointMilitaryAcademyCaseStudy
TheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy(USMA),locatedinWestPoint,NewYork,canbeexpressed throughthreewords:duty,honor,andcountry.ThegreatstonewallstructuresoftheAcademysiton theedgeoftheHudsonRiver,surroundedbygorgeousmountainsThepeacefulandquietsceneryis locatedonly50milesfromoneofthebiggestcitiesinthecountry,NewYorkCity.TheUnited StatesMilitaryAcademy,alsoknownastheUSMA,isunlikeanyothersecondaryeducationschool forrecenthighschoolgraduates.WestPointMilitaryAcademyhasprovenitselftobethebest leadershipinstitutioninthecountrybecauseofitsacademicandphysicaldemands,character buildingprograms,andtheabilitytocreatesomeofthebestUnitedStatesArmyshowmore content...
Afterthewar,thefortwasnotbeingusedforanything.Washingtonhadanideathatthefortress shouldbecomeaschoolWestPointFortresswasmadeintoWestPointMilitaryAcademywhere cadetsweretrainedtobecomesoldiers.TheAcademywasestablishedintoAmerica'sfirst engineeringschoolin1802(Spiegel,1999).Washington'svisionforthefortasanacademicand leadershipschoolhadfinallycameintoeffect(Boyer,2005).ThomasJeffersonconvinced lawmakerstobuildtheschool,inwhichtheygavefifteenhundreddollarstowardsclassroomsand barracks(Boyer,2005)Allcostsoftuitionandroomandboardwerepaidbythegovernmentforall cadets.ThefirstclassofWestPointconsistedofonlytenstudents(Boyer,2005).First,the AcademyofferedclassesinChemistry,Mineralogy,andGeology(Boyer,2005).Rightawaythe Academywasknownforitsvigorousacademics.Studentsweregivendemeritsforbadbehavior (Boyer,2005).CadetsweretaughtcomplextacticsfromNapoleononhowtofightawar(Boyer, 2005)Intheearlydays,studentscouldn'tsocializeinoroutsideofclasses,whichforcedthemto focusonacademicsandathletics.(Boyer,2005).In1898,theschooladoptedthemotto"Duty, Honor,Country"(Boyer,2005),whichisstillused
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Throughoutmychildhood,I'vealwayswantedtotellastoryfrommyperspective.Iwasbornwith introvertedtendencies,andIstillhaveahardtimearticulatingtopeoplemythoughts.Butcreating shortfilmshasalwaysbeenaneffectivemediumtoexpressmytrueselftotheaudiencearoundme. Mostimportantly,creatingshortstorieshelpsmetounderstandwhoIam.Iwouldliketobe consideredfortheIFDMprogrambecauseIbelieveIwasborntotellastory,andIwouldlikethe experienceofotherstohelpshapemyinfluence.
MyfirstexperiencewithdigitalmediastartedatVolcanoVistaHighSchoolRegisteringasan incomingfreshman,Iwantedtobecomeaphotographer.Idistinctlyrememberregisteringfor photographyclass,butIwasstuckwithdigitalmediaasanalternative.Iliketojokethatitwas eitherdestinythatputmeinthatclass,orahugemistake.Nonetheless,Iinstantlyfellinlovewith digitalmedia.Myteacher,JanSherer,providedmewithequipmentandsoftwaretobeabletolearn thebasicsofdigitalmediaAlthoughshewasunpopularbymoststudentsinherclass,Ialways consideredheramentor.Bysenioryear,Ibecameproficientinmostadobeproductssuchas PremierePro,AdobeAfterEffects,andAdobeAudition.Ialsolearneddifferentcameratechniques thankstoherteachings.Shealsoentrustedmewithacameramanjobfortheschoolsdaily morning...showmorecontent...
IamcurrentlyholdinganinternshipwithMojistudios,andacoupleofmycoworkershave graduatedunderIFDM.WhatI'venoticedwithIFDMgraduatesisthattheirlevelofskillsinthe fieldtheyspecializeinisastounding.Furthermore,graduatesofIFDMhaveahigherchanceof findingacareer,orsoIhearIwouldlovetotakethisprogramsothatIcanfindmyspecialtyin digitalmedia,andmaturethoseskillstoaprofessionallevel.IknowIFDMcanprovidemewiththe toolsthatI
DigitalMediaAdmissionEssay
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WestPointCurriculumAnalysis
TheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademyatWestPoint,NewYorkisanaccreditedinstitutionforhigher learningandafederalacademythattrainsundergraduatestobecomingcommissionedofficersinthe UnitedStatesArmy.Ifoffersstudents,referredtoasCadets,aBachelorofSciencedegreein thirteendifferentmajorsthatincludeeconomics,mechanicalengineering,law,foreignlanguages, mathematicsandhistory1Eachmajorimplementsacurriculumthatdevelopsontheaspectsand principlesofrealworldsituationsbutfocusesprimarilyonhowonewilloperatewithintheArmy's spectrumofoperations.WestPoint,asitiscommonlyreferredto,trainsCadetstobecomeeffective andefficientnotonlyintheirbaccalaureatestudiesbutalsoasshowmorecontent Candidatesmustbeatleast17butnoolderthan22onJuly1oftheyeartheyenterWestPoint.3 Thereisoneexceptiontotheagelimitof22,andthatisonlyifthepersonhadpreviouslyapplied butwasnotabletoattendduetoadeploymentinsupportoftheGlobalWaronTerror.Thiswaiver wouldgranta25–year–oldSoldierattendancetoWestPointonJuly1st,whichwouldbetheyear theyentertheacademyCandidatescannotbemarried,cannotbepregnant,andcannotholdany legaltiestochildren.Candidatesmustbeinaboveaveragephysicalandmentalhealth,passa medicalexam,andpassafitnessassessmentconductedbytheacademy.Thereasonfortheagelimit isdevelopedfromtheneedtobephysicallypreparedfortherigorousstressorsthatareexperienced intheacademy,whichwillreducetheriskofinjuriesanddropouts.Theacademyneedstoremain competitiveinitsindustryandtoremainsowouldrequireittoholdrestrictionsinagelimitsFor thesereasons,includingitsnocosttostudentsattending,ForbeshasrankedWestPointasoneofthe topundergraduatecollegesinthenation.In2009ForbesrankedWestPointasthenumberone collegeinthenation,4thin2010,3rdin2011,7thin2012and2013and9thin20144The aforementionedgeneralrequirementsareonlyasmallpartoftheentireprocessofattendingWest Point.Aftermeetingthe
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IamwritingtoexpressmyinterestintheMaster'sofEducationinCurriculumandInstructionwitha concentrationinSTEM(stem,technology,engineeringandmathematics)programthatbeginsin August.
IcurrentlyholdaBachelor'sofScienceinComputerEngineeringTechnologyfromPrairieView A&MUniversity.MyGPAfromPrairieViewA&MUniversitywasn'tmybestwork.Atthattime,I wasyoungandonmyownforthefirsttimeandIlivedlifeasayoungperson.Priortoattending PrairieViewA&MUniversity,Iwasdedicatedonreceivingexcellentgradesinschool,becauseof myhardworkIgraduatedfromhighschoolnumberthreeinmyclass.Incollege,Imademistakes andlearnedfromthosemistakes.Iwassoelatedtobethefirstpersoninmyfamilytograduatefrom college.Myinterestinteachingledmetocompleteateacher'sdeficiencyplanfromTexasSouthern University.AtTexasSouthernUniversity,myGPAis3.88whichisatruereflectionofmyabilityto successfullycompleteachallengingeducationalprogramTheGPAisasignofmyseriousness towardcompletingmygoal....showmorecontent...
Ihavetaughtfor18years.Ihave12yearsofteachingelementary,aswellas6yearsofteaching secondarymath.Inelementaryandsecondary,IhaveservedinthecapacityofMathDepartment ChairpersonandThirdGradeLeadTeacher.Ihaveplannedanddevelopedacademicschedulesand interventionplanstoensurethesuccessofstudents,inadditiontomyteacher'sresponsibilitiesI havecollaboratedwithprincipalsandcolleaguestoensurethatthegoalsandobjectivesweremet.I havepresentedvariousworkshopsandtrainingsintheareasofmathandscience.Ibelievethat educationisthemostimportanttoolthatapersonhasforsuccessSo,thereforeitisimportantthat everychildshouldbegiventhebesteducation
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MasterOfAdmissionEssaySample
Acknowledgement:MovingOutofBadJudgement
Allhumansjudge;however,toadmitoneiswrongaboutone'sperceptionsisinfrequent.In"My SpeechatWestPoint"byMarjaneSatrapiand"TheEstrangement"byJamaicaKincaid,thewriters makecommentontheirlifeexperiences.Eachaddressestheirpoorjudgmentofothersandthe impactthathashadonthem.Satrapiwritesaboutthepointinherlifeshebeganlearningonceshe realizesthattheviewsshehadofthepeopleinhercountrywerewrongduringhertimeatWest Point.Similarly,Kincaid'sessayisabouttheroughrelationshipshehadwithhermotherandhow hercriticismofherchangedafterherexperienceasamother.Bothprovidesocialcommentaryon themistakestheymadeastheyreflectonthehardshipstheyexperiencedandultimately,sharehow thathasinfluencedtheirgrowthashumanbeings. Tobegin,Satrapilearnsfromcreatinganimageofthepeopleinherhometownbeforegettingto knowthem.Sheisconfidentthattheyareignorantandbelligerent.Inherfirstcomicframeshetells usthatbeforegoingtoWestPoint,shefearedhoweveryonewouldtreatherandwonderedifpeople wouldactuallyrespectherifsheexpressedherbeliefsinherspeechSheassertsthatafterher speech,"Thegeneralwillorderthemtohangme...Iwilldie"(248).Inotherwords,Satrapiwas terrifiedofwhatwouldhappenatWestPointHowever,inthesecondcomic,heractualexperience, itisthecontrary.Throughouther
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TheWestPointCheatingScandal
Description:
InAprilof1976itwasfoundthattherewasapossibilitythatoverhalfofthejuniorclassatWest PointAcademyhadviolatedtheWestPointhonorcodebycheatingonacaseassignment.The honorcodestates"Acadetwillnotlie,cheat,orsteal,nortoleratethosewhodo."Thiswasbyfar thelargestviolationofthehonorcodeinWestPointhistoryandpresentedsomeunusualchallenges totheadministration.Astheyeardraggedonitwasfoundthatmoreandmorestudentspossiblyhad cheatedontheassignmentandwasalsobecomingapublicrelationsnightmareinthepressand internallytotheArmybranchoftheUnitedStatesmilitary.
ThehonorcodeatWestPointwasshowmorecontent
Theempowermentandenforcementofthecodehasalwaysbeenuptotheethicscommitteewhichis madeupofcadetsitself.Thishadalwaysbeentoexertpressureonallstudentstocomplywiththe codebymeansofhavingtofaceyourpeersinhearings.
Theonepartofthehonorcodethatwasastapleofcontroversywastheendthatsaysnocadetwill tolerateanyactionthatviolatesthehonorcode.Thisimpliedthatifyouknewanythingabouta violationthatyouwerejustasliableastheoffenderhimself.Thispartofthecodewastroublingfor manyconsideringyouweredealingwithcomradeswhoweretrainingnexttoyouinclosequarters andwithseriousfutureimplications.Thiscanbeaveryprecarioussituationformanyandby holdingstudentstoitcanpromotemorehonorcodeviolations.Theproblemhereisthefactthat anyonecanmakemistakesandinthesituationsinvolvingthehonorcodeWestPointhastakenthe honoroutofsupportingyourcomradesaswellasthehonorofadmittingtoyourmistakes.They havedonethisbyissuingexpulsiontoallviolatorsItcanbesaidthatsomeonewhocanadmitto theirmistakesknowingtheconsequencesthatwillensueisofastrongermoralbackgroundthanone whomaynotviolatethecodeinthefirstplaceorsomeonewhodoesnotgetcaught.(Note:the currenthonorcodeallowsforreacceptancetotheacademyafterviolationsand
TheWestPointCheatingScandalEssay
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Sincebirth,acombinationofexperiencesforgedinmeauniquemindsetanddeterminationmaking metheidealcandidatetoattendtheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademyWestPoint.Fouryearsof educationandserviceasanAirForceJuniorReserveOfficerTrainingCorps(JROTC)cadet, togetherwithmyserviceasamemberofaChristianmissionteam,whencombinedwithmylegacy asthenamesakedescendantofUnitedStatesArmyMasterSergeantGeorgeLaVanceKyzer, MissinginAction–ChosinReservoir,Korea,providemewithanunparalleledknowledgeofthe duty,service,andsacrificebecomingamemberofTheUnitedStatesArmycommands.Therefore,I amtheperfectcandidatetorepresentSouthCarolinaasanomineetoservethiscountryatthe level...showmorecontent...
Layingdownone'slifeforanother,puttingpersonalconvenienceasideforthesafetyandsecurityof ourcountryandourcitizens,isthebusinessofdailymilitaryservicethatisnotjustdemonstrated duringtimesofopenconflictandbattle.Serviceonmissionteamsinunderservedareasofour country,wherecitizensareinneedofbasichumansupportandassistance,taughtmethattrue servicerequiresnoindividualglory.Oneofourgreateststrengthsasanationcontinuestocome fromtheindomitablespiritofourcitizens.AsaChristian,Ibelieveinthesanctityoflifetherefore, asasoldierIwillbemindfulofthelivesofthoseservingwithme.Asanofficer,Iunderstandthat onedayImayhavetocallsoldiersintocombathowever,asaWestPointgraduateandaChristianI willneverdosothoughtlesslyAsthenamesakeofapatrioticandcourageoussoldierwhomadethe ultimatesacrificeinhisservicetoourstateandourcountry,Iwasraisedwiththesacredawareness thataccompaniesthecallofduty.Forallofthereasonsherein,Iamuniquelyworthytobea nomineefromSouth
WestPointApplicationEssay
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GeneralDouglasMacArthurdeliveredthisspeechonMay12,1962,whileacceptingtheSylvanus ThayerAwardathisbelovedalmamaterWestPointmilitaryacademy.Duringthisspeech,General MacArthurreflectsonhislifeandaccomplishmentsasanoldman,andhetellstheyoungcadets whatWestPoint'smotto,"Duty,Honor,Country,"hasmeanttohiminhislife.Throughoutthis speech,GenMacArthurusesvariousrepetitions,emotionalappeals,symbols,andmovingimagery toshowtheaudiencethetruepowerofWestPointandthismotto.GeneralDouglasMacArthur's performedhisdutiesinservicetothiscountryforover60years,from1903whengraduatedwiththe highesthonorsfromWestPointuntilthedayhediedin1964Hisshowmorecontent WhentheKoreanwarbrokeoutinJuneof1950,MacArthurquicklydispatchedtroopstomeetthe invadingNorthKoreans.BylateOctober,duetotheincrediblecommandingoftheseforces,the invadershadbeenpushedbackalmosttotheChineseboarder.(Funk&Wagnalls)Throughallof thisincredibleandimpactfulcombatexperience,MacArthursawterribletragediesandincredible victoriesItisfromtheseintenselifeexperiencesthatMacArthurdrawsonwhenwritingthis speech.GeneralArthurMacArthurwastrulyamanwhodevotedhislifetothisbeliefincountryhe lovedandtheinstitutionthathelpedhimbecomethegreatmanhewas.Forthisacceptancespeech, MacArthurchoosestofocusonthemottoofWestPoint,"duty,honor,country",asthecenterofhis speech.ThisisanextremelywellchosentopicbecausethemajorityofhisaudiencearetheWest PointCadetswhowillbeinstilledwiththesethreewordsduringtheirtimeattheacademy MacArthur'sgoalistoinspirethesecadets,andtoshowthemthepowerthatadheringtothismodel andtheidealsoftheacademycanhaveononeslife.TodothismosteffectivelyMacArthurbegins withanideathatwillworktoaddtothecredibilityofhisentireargumentThisideaisthatthe speaker"possessneitherthateloquenceofdiction,thatpoetryofimagination,northatbrillianceof metaphortotellyouall
RhetoricalAnalysisOfWestPointSpeech
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ThepurposeofthisletteristorequestanominationtoWestPoint.Thisisacrucialstepinmeeting twoofmymajorlifegoals:obtainingacollegedegreeandpursingalongtermmilitarycareer.
IwasbornonMay2,1994inOrangeburg,SouthCarolinaandmovedtoColumbia,SouthCarolina attheageoftwo.Iamtheoldestoffourchildren,thetwoyoungestbeingmypaternalhalf–siblings. Growingupmyhobbieswerevolunteering,fencing,cooking,andoutdooractivitiesAttheageof 12,Ibeganmyworkcareerbyvolunteering.Legally,IwastooyoungtoworkbutIknewIwould needjobexperiencetogetajoboneday.OverthenextthreeyearsIvolunteeredatacommunity centerforlibrary(RichlandCountyPublicLibrary–SandhillsBranch),acommunitycenterforlow incomechildren(BethlehemCommunityCenter),a...showmorecontent...
Ihadtheconfidencetogothecollegebutwasnotsureaboutmycareergoals.Itwasatoughchoice becausemyparentshadadvanceddegreesandexpectedmetopursuethesamepath.Ipromised themIwouldgetacollegedegreeandstarttakingclassesonceIcompletedmyAIT.IleftforBasic CombatTrainingatFtLeonardwoodonNovember12,2012Duringmytimethere,Iwasinspired tobecomeacommissionedofficer.OurCompanyXO,1Lt.Donaldson,toldusaninspiringstory abouthisexperiencesintheArmy.Hehaddefinedhimselfasa"gogetter",takingadvantageofthe resourcestheArmyhadprovidedhim.Duringhistimeasanenlistedsoldierhehadobtainedtwo collegedegrees.Heconstantlystrovetoimprovehimselftobeabletotakeonanytaskthathewas confrontedwithThroughhisstory,Irealizedthateducationwasnotonlythekeytobeing successfulasacivilian,butalsoasasoldier.IhadgraduatedfrombasictrainingonFebruary7, 2013andwouldsoonsetoutforSanAngelo,Texastoattendthe35NovembercourseatGood Fellow
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EssayLetterToWestGoal
WestPointisimportanttotheHudsonValley.TheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy,alsoknownas WestPointisamilitaryacademylocatedonthewesternbankoftheHudsonRiver.Establishedon March16,1802,WestPointwasconsideredthemostimportantstrategicpointinAmericaby GeorgeWashington.WestPointisimportanttotheHudsonValleybecauseittrainstocadetsforthe army,itisaverypowerfulmilitarypost,andithasimpactedmanywars
WestPointisimportanttotheHudsonValleybecauseittrainscadetsfortheArmy.Itdatesallthe waybacktotheRevolutionaryWayWestPointfirstopenedonMarch16,1802Whichmakesit theoldestofthefivefederalserviceacademies.Sinceitistheoldestthatmeansthattheyare...show morecontent
Forexample,duringtherevolutionarywarWestPointwasnevercapturedbytheBritish.Although WestPointcameclosetobeingcapturedbecauseBenedictArnold'streasonbuttheconspiracywas uncoveredWestPointnotbeingcapturedwasimportantbecauseithadtheabilitytohavefull controloftheHudsonRiver.Locatedonimposingshearingcliffs,thatgaveacommandingviewof thewateranda150tonchainwhichcontrolledrivertrafficallowedWestPointtohavetheabilityto controlwatertrafficandengageenemyboatsifneeded.WestPointalsooverlookstheriveratits criticalpoint,whereshipshavetotrytogothroughasharpturntocontinueupriver.Thismeant shipshadtoslowdowntotrytopassthroughtheturnwhichgaveWestPointtheabilitytoengage orstopenemyshipseasily.
WestPointhasabigeffectontheHudsonValleybecauseittrainsandeducatescadetsforthearmy, itisaverystrongmilitarypost,andithashadbiginfluencesonmanywars.Inconclusion,West Pointistheoldestofthefivefederalserviceacademies,wasnamedthemostimportantstrategic positioninAmerica,andwasnevercapturedbytheBritishduringtherevolutionarywar.This connectstoitsimportancetotheHudsonValleybecauseitaddsprotectspeoplesothattheycan becomethebesttheycan
WhyIsWestPointImportant
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BeastBarracksistheWestPoint'ssixweekbasictrainingperiodforincomingfreshmenofficer candidates.ItcomparestoFreshmanOrientationWeekbecausetheincomingfreshmenintheCorps ofCadetsatTexasA&M,gothroughasimilarbasictrainingprocess.SuchasonthefirstdayBeast Barrackstheyareinstructedtogotodifferentstationstogetissuedtheiritems.ThefishinCorpsdid thesamethingonthefirstdayofFOWAnothersimilarityis,theyalsolearnedallofbasic knowledgeandcustomsoftheschool.Forexample,marching,wiringauniform,howtoeatinthe messhall,andtofollowalltherulesandregulationsasfreshmen.Whichareallthesamethingswe learnedduringFOW
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WestPoint'sSixWeek:BasicTrainingProcess
Overthecourseofmythirty–eightmonthsatWestPointthusfar,characterdevelopmentplayeda prominentroleinmysuccessesandfailuresalike.ThePeriodicDevelopmentalReview(PDR) systemhelpedmerealizewhichareasneededfocusandcarefulattentiontocapitalizeonmy potentialasafutureofficer.Thefivefacetsofcharacter–civic,social,performance,moral,and leadership–areessentialgroupsofpersonalitytraitsforanyeffectiveleadertohaveinmindwhen consideringcharacterdevelopmentcoursesofaction.Inmyexperience,performanceisthefacetof characterinwhichIamstrongest,whileIhaveseveralshortcomingsintheleadershipcategory, makingitmyweakestInordertobecomeamorecapableleaderofshowmorecontent Themostrelevantdisplayofresiliencyduringmytimeasacadethascomefrommyconstantly changingfamilydynamic.Growingup,Ispentmostofmytimewithmygrandparents.Iwas fortunatethatbothmypaternalandmaternalgrandparentslivedwithin10milesofmyhome,which ledmetovirtuallydailyvisitsforeighteenyears.Theyservedasthebabysittersandtaxiservicefor games,practices,andmedicalappointmentsIwastheonlygrandchildonmypaternalsideandthe onlyonethatlivedinthelowerforty–eightstatesonthematernalside,resultinginacloserbondasI wastheonlygrandchildtheywereabletospendtimewith.AsIgotolder,therolesstartedto reverse.AsIhitmiddleschool,itbecamemechangingtheirdiapersratherthantheotherway around.Iwasdrivingthemtothemedicalappointments,takingcareoftheirhouseandlawncare, andsoonNeedlesstosay,mygrandparentsbecamethecenterofmylifeHavinglivedwiththem whenIwasyounger,Ihadmoreorlessbeenraisedbythem,whichcontributedtohownaturalitfelt havingtotakecareofthemasiftheyweremyownagingparents.Unfortunately,theiragebeganto catchuptothemduringmytimeattheAcademyThetwograndparentsIhaveleftarelivingdown thehallfromoneanotheratVancrestNursingHomeinmyhometown,neither
WestPointCharacterDevelopmentEssay
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WestPoint'sCharacterDevelopmentEssay
WestPointisaplaceinwhichthedevelopmentofone'sselfandone'scharacterisamongitstop priorities.SomuchsothatthereisanarticletitledWestPoint'sCharacterDevelopmentStrategy whichoutlinesthewayinwhichWestPointaimstoachievethisdevelopment.Inoneofthis document'sfirstfewpagesitstatesthat,"Everyteam,club,department,anddirectoratehasan overarchingresponsibilitytobuildcharacterorfacilitatecharacterdevelopmentineachindividual throughoutthecourseofthe47–monthcadetexperience."Bymakingthisstatement,the administrationatWestPointtrulydriveshomehowinvestedtheyareinthecharacterdevelopment ofeachindividualcadetthroughouttheirtimeattheacademyinallfacetsofWestPointlifeTodo this,WestPointnarrowedthefocusofthebroadtopicofcharacterdevelopmentontheindividual leveldownintofivekeyfacets;Moral,Performance,Civic,Leadership,andSocial.Throughmy timeattheacademy,Icantruthfullysaythatthefocusonmyindividualcharacterdevelopmentwas apriorityanddidfallinlinewiththefivefacetsstatedabove.Throughoutthisdevelopment,itwas madeblatantlyobviousthatIhavesomeflawsandsomestrengthsinmycharacterOfbothareas,it iseasilydiscernablethatmystrongestfacetisLeadership,whilemyweakestbeingSocial.Despite someflawswithintheirdesign,Iwasabletodeterminethesestrengthsandweaknessesusingthe systemsthatWestPointhas
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RevolutionaryWarProject:WestPointGeneralGeorgeWashington,oneoftheFoundingFathersof theUnitedStatesofAmerica,theContinentalArmycommander,andlaterthefirstpresidentofthe UnitedStatesofAmericaduringtheAmericanRevolutiondeclaredWestPoint,as"themost importantmilitarypositioninAmerica"[i].WestPointislocatedinNewYork,alongtheHudson Riverand50milesfromNewYorkCity.WestPointwasaverystrategicpointduringtheAmerican Revolution,duetoitslocationneartheHudsonRiveranditsgeographicalconditionsforitsdefense, whichthereforewascausedtheContinentalArmytofortifyitsdefensethere.Thusafterwardsa militaryacademywasfoundedatWestPoint,inwhichplayed...showmorecontent...
Anotherimportantfactor,WestPointhadwas,itwasrightbytheHudsonRiver'sS–Curveoras Boyntonquotes,"Thepeculiarbend,orturnoftheriver,formingalmostare–enteringangle".[vii] TheS–curvehadaverysharpcurve,inwhichwouldforceanyshipsatthetimetoslowdownin ordertomaneuverthroughit.WestPointhavingthehighgroundsonbothsidesoftheHudsonRiver allowedtheContinentalArmyasquoted"positionfourartillerybatteriesalongthebankinjustthe rightpositionstoengageenemyshipsastheyslowedtomaneuverthroughtheriver'stightbends" [viii]HavingthehighmountainsalsopreventedtheBritisharmyfromcomingupfromNewYork, furthermoremakingWestPointmucheasiertodefendwithafewernumberofsoldiersThemanto overseeandbuildthisdefensewasOfficerThaddeusKosciuszko.ThaddeusKosciuszkowasa Polishengineer,whowasthemastermindbehindWestPoint'sdefensefortification.Thomas JeffersonquotesKosciuszkoas'heisaspureasonoflibertyasIhaveeverknown"[ix]Kosciuszko notonlypositionedthebatteriesatWestPoint,butfurthermorecreatedthe"GreatChain"defense. KosciuszkofurthermoretooktheadvantageoftheS–curveontheHudsonbyhavingachaingoing acrossbetweenWestPointandConstitutionIsland.ConstitutionIslandwastheposition,inwhich theartillerybatterieswereplaced.Thechainwasputacrosstheriverwithboomsoflogs
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WomenCadetsatWestPointTheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy(USMA)inWestPoint,New YorkisviewedasoneofthemosthonorableuniversitiesintheAmerica.TheAcademygraduated itsfirststudentin1802,andthousandsthereafterward,butitwasn'tuntil1976beforethefirst femaleswouldbeallowedtoenter.1976wasamonumentalachievementforwomen'srightsinthat time,butthiswassomethingthatwasbeingfoughtfor,for200yearsAfterfightingforsolongto gainthisright,theinauguralclassstillhaditsworkcutoutforthem.
BriefOverviewofWestPointBeforetheMilitaryAcademywasthere,WestPointwasknownas FortArnoldGettingitsnamesakefromBenedictArnold,beforechangingitsnametoFort Clinton....showmorecontent...
Manywomensufferedinjuriesfromtheroadmarcheswithfullgear,andrunningincombatbootsor oursuedeConversesneakersupanddownhillsformilesatatimeatapaceoftenunder8–minutes permile...Frequentlyturningpurplebytheendoftheruns,IdecidedearlyonthatIwouldpassout beforeIletmyselfdropoutofarun"Thevigoroustrainingledtoahighdropoutright,onlyleaving 62femalecadetsleftfortheirgraduationin1980.However,thatnumberwashigherthanoriginally anticipated.AmonthbeforegraduationPeopleMagazinewentWestPointtointerviewsome femalescadetsontheirpersonalthoughtsandexperiences.Mostwomenspokeproudlyabouttheir accomplishmentsattheacademy,buttheirwereafewvoicesofconcern."WhenIfirstcameitwas difficult,butithaschanged,anditischangingAlotofexperimentationwentonwithusour femininityhasbeenunfairlyslightedmanytimesalongtheway...Idon'tthinkwomenshouldbesent tocombatduty,butthat'snotbecauseIthinkwomencantdoit–Ijustdon'twanttobeshotat."
Mixedfeelingsaboutco–educationatWestPointwerenotjustlimitedtofemalecadets,butmale cadetsaswell.Somemendidn'twantthewomenthereatall,whileothersdidn'tcareonewayor another,andsomefullyacceptedwomenduringthis
WomenInWestPointEssay
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TheTurningPoint
Probablythemostimportantturningpointinmylifehappenedin1992Atthistime,Iwaseight yearsoldandlivinginWilliamsportPennsylvania.Mydadhadawell–payingjobatAnchorDarling ValveCompany,IwasattendingaparochialschoolandIthoughtlifewasjustgreat.Atthetimewe livedinalargefour–storyhousewithaseparatethree–storygarageandanacreofforestfora backyard.Ihadaten–speedbicycleandIwouldoftengobicyclingwithmyfriendsatthenearby cemetery.No–oneeverobjectedtothis,infactpeoplewouldoftenhavepicnicsatthetopofthishill atthecemetery.IguesstheonlythingsIevercomplainedaboutweretheconstantmusicshow morecontent...
ingAtthistime,Iwasdoingwellinmythirdgradeclassesandlookingforwardtohavingthereally nicefourthgradeteacherthateveryonewastalkingabout.IalsohadabrownbeltinKarateandI wouldearnmyblackbeltsoonifwedidn'tmove.Ididn'twanttoleavemyhome,myschoolandmy friends.Despiteallmycomplaining,Ihadactuallycometoexpectthemove.Thiswasn'tthefirst timewemoved.IwasborninChicagoIllinoisandIlivedthereforfouryears.WhenIwasfour,my dad'scompanymovedhimtoRacineWisconsinAfterthreeyears,wemovedagain,thistimeto WilliamsportPennsylvaniaandthehouseofourdreams.Andnow,afterlivinginWilliamsportfor onlytwoyears,weweremovingagain.Ihadnoticedapatternandtoldmymotherthatthenexttime wemovedIwantedtomovetoMontanaIsaidthisbecauseIfiguredwe'dbemovingagaininabout ayearandMontanawasabigplacesowewouldprobablymoveintoanotherbighouse.
Whentheschoolyearended,AlliedVanLinesCorporationcametomoveusfromourbeloved houseinWilliamsporttoatinytownhouseinCranberryTwp.,asuburbofPittsburgh.Ididn'tlike Pittsburghatfirst.IneverreallyunpackedallmystuffbecauseIknewwewouldmovesoon.Ididn't likemynewschoolorthenewmusicteachersmyparentssignedmeupwithEventually,wedid move,butnottoMontana.
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CollegeAdmissionsEssay:TheTurningPoint
