Depew Courier/ Friday, January 2, 2015
1
-DEPEW-
Come visit our website for specials:
wizardgoesgreen.com
“Natural Gas. Your Best Energy Value.”
694-8524
The “Wizard” of Comfort.
CIRCULATION 7,284
JANUARY 2, 2015
Schmitz makes the right decision to attend West Point By Matthew Ondesko MANAGING EDITOR
“The end goal is to become an officer. So you think about how am I developing as an officer? How will I become a better officer after I graduate?” - West Point Yearling Jake Schmitz. Picture yourself sitting in a classroom at 17 or 18-years old. You’re choosing where you want to attend college for the next four years. Wondering what you may major in. Seeing where your buddies may end up. Now picture yourself sitting in that same classroom wondering if you should attend one of the three military academies. Forgoing a “normal” college life. The normal college atmosphere for the staunch, regimented, life of a military education. You wonder how many 18-year-olds could sit and make that decision of giving four years at an academy to then turn around and give five more years of active service upon graduation and three more of reserves. But, for some seniors in high school, it’s an easy decision. It’s a decision that was made up as soon as they visited West Point, the Naval Academy or Air Force Academy. It’s a decision that an 18-year-old from Lancaster knew would be the right one. A decision that Lancaster High School graduate Jake Schmitz hasn’t regretted.
“It’s [academy life] everything I though it would be,” stated Schmitz recently at a dinner held, at Russell’s Steaks, Chops & More, for Western New Yorkers who are attending either West Point, the Naval Academy or Air Force Academy. “It’s challenging, but it’s not too hard.” In hasn’t been easy for
behind in your studies. “It’s a lot like most other colleges, especially during the academic year,” explained Schmitz. “Most of your focus is on academics. It’s almost like high school where you have to go to every class, and you have structured periods. Balancing academics, and I was on the cross country team, and trying to get enough sleep I would say was the most challenging.” F o r Schmitz, however, it’s all worth it. Sure he could be living that “normal” college life. But, he has a bigger purpose. He wants to help server and protect the freedom that many of us enjoy. “Ultimately, I want to serve the military in some capacity,” said Schmitz. “I saw how other people benefited a lot from serving our country. I wanted to give back. I was also looking at the best college that I wanted to go to. It was the best path to serving the military and finding the right college to go to.” While Schmitz was set on heading to West Point, he still had to get his parents on board. Parents have a tendency to be just a tad protective on their children. Especially when it comes to possibly going overseas and fighting in conflicts all over the world. Schmitz said, however, while his family was a little surprised by his waiting this
“The end goal is to become an officer. So you think about how am I developing as an officer? How will I become a better officer after I graduate?” Schmitz at West Point. But, like so many before him, it never is. Plebe year (freshman) is all about the Beast. Beat Barracks is meant to test you physical and mentally. If you can make it through the first six weeks of the summer, and live to tell about it, then you can make it at the academy. But, it just isn’t the military training you have to deal with while at West Point. You also have to deal with the Ivy League education and extracurriculars. Every Cadet at West Point is made to take part in some kind of sport whether it is on the varsity or club level. It makes for long days and nights. It also makes for the need for great time management. Getting up at 6 a.m. and going to 10 or 11 p.m., if not later, could easily get you
Jake Schmitz of Lancaster is a Yearling (sophomore) at West Point. life, they were behind his decision. “I think they were a little surprised that I wanted to go the military route,” he said. “They were very supportive. They loved the idea.” A mathematics major at West Point, Schmitz will still have to serve five years of active duty after the graduation.
He can be stationed all over the world, and will be able to experience different cultures and different lifestyles. The commitment to be in the military for that long never really entered his mind. He just knows he wants to make a difference in the world, whatever that may be. “Five years isn’t too much
of a commitment,” stated Schmitz. “It’s something that you do always think about, because you become a Second Lieutenant after you get commissioned. The end goal is to become an officer. So you think about how am I developing as an officer? How will I become a better officer after I graduate?”