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Continued from page 2 hearing about the Rhodes Scholarship and at what point did you consider such a unique honor attainable?

A: I first considered the Rhodes Scholarship during my junior or “Cow” year at West Point. My research advisor, Dr. Frey, had a meeting with me discussing future project goals in studying the prevention and resolution of mass atrocities like genocide and ethnic cleansing. He highlighted that graduate scholarships like Rhodes provided an opportunity for me to expand my worldview and engage with experts in my field of interest. I had received an email about applying for the scholarship but had originally deleted it because I did not understand what it was, nor had it been a priority in my mind because I was focused on the next steps in being an Army Officer. Thank God for Dr. Frey, otherwise I probably would have never applied!

Q: When did your commitment to academic excellence begin?

A: I would credit my love for reading as my true kickstart to academic excellence. There are some pretty entertaining photos of me dumping my bookshelves over as a 3-year-old to just sit and pretend I could read. My parents read to me every night as a child and my Papa Leonard would spend hours talking about history and books with me. Reading became my passion, escape and curiosity enabler. My mom would check on my room at night because I was constantly trying to stay up late reading with my book light from my papa. Liberty Lake Elementary School definitely facilitated this passion with its Reading Points program and amazing teachers like Mrs. Hansen who would bring me books from her house to read.

Q: How would you characterize the experience of growing up in Liberty Lake?

A: I would characterize growing up in Liberty Lake as empowering. The opportunities varied from running the Liberty Lake Kids’ Triathlon to participating in K-Kids through Kiwanis. All these activities were about exposure to hard work and service. I would also highlight the cohesion – it is phenomenal that I can visit home now, go to the Liberty

Lake Athletic Club and receive hugs and well-wishes from peers’ parents and kids I babysat. There is nothing that fills my cup more than getting hugs from the Calkins family –McCall, Connor, Kennedy, Parker and Campbell are my inspiration. Receiving videos of Campbell doing pull-ups – that girl motivates me to be better every day and I cannot wait to see her shine at West Point someday.

Q: Being accepted into West Point is a considerable achievement in itself. What do you think were some of the keys to get to that point when you were at CV?

A: Without a doubt the teachers/ coaches were key. My track/cross country coaches, Mr. Arte, Mr. McGuire, and Mrs. Butner, taught me how to lead and build a team. Señora Smith was a former Army linguist and inspired me with stories of grit. My instructors, Mr. Gruis, Mr. Butner and Mr. Kreiser, introduced me to my passions – history, physical fitness, mass atrocity studies. My leadership team, Mrs. Donley, Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Allen, taught me how to lead empathetically and empower others. I would also give huge credit to Mr. Gregson. He is a West Point graduate and mentored me through the application process. He is the epitome of selfless service and sacrifice. Whenever West Point got really difficult, my self-motivator was often, “Do it for Mr. Gregson, carry-on his legacy.”

Q: Along those same lines, how did you find a balance between your studies, sports and social life that made high school more than just one lopsided venture?

A: My family and friends were my source of balance. It was either BC Calculus homework in Mr. Mack’s classroom or painting posters for Leadership right after school and then heading straight to sports. My favorite memories are hanging out with friends in Mr. McGuire and Mr. Arte’s classrooms after practice. Another aspect I hope to always practice in life was eating as a family at the dinner table. We made it a priority to always eat together. We had the best conversations about everything from how the day went to music to history/politics. I think it says a lot about how amazing my parents and sister are to say that I chose to be at that table nightly regardless of other events.

Q: The focus on being an outstanding leader is clearly a priority for you. What were some of the lessons you learned at West Point that elevated your leadership skills?

A: I think my leadership philosophy, SERVE, spells the lessons out very well – Strengthen Belonging, Empower Others, Rally Grit and Value Excellence. West Point is unique because you are not just learning about leadership but actively practicing it as you have a certain position of responsibility each year. I learned from trial and error, both from myself and by observing others, what constitutes good leadership. I also had phenomenal Army mentors at West Point who were more than willing to share their experiences, lessons and advice. I could sit for hours talking with leaders like Col. Kuhlman, Bg. Quander, Maj. Saul, Maj. Ryan, First Sgt. Engstrom, and First Sgt. Davis. They helped me through some very difficult challenges at West Point and empowered me to achieve goals and build teams.

Q: Elite colleges are often a wake-up call for elite students who discover they are just one of many with exceptional aptitude. How was that adjustment like for you at West Point and now at Oxford?

A: The greatest mindset someone can have when going into an elite space is to not let it be a competition. We all have different perspectives, backgrounds and strengths/ weaknesses. I am absolutely not the smartest person in any room, but boy, do I have phenomenal classmates who elevate me in areas I am weak in. The adjustment for me was just about humbling myself to ask for help and making myself available to others who I could help in areas I was strong in. The sign of a fantastic, healthy academic institution is one that encourages students to elevate those around them, not tear them down in an effort to be number one. In my experience, those who don’t have that mindset become lonely pretty fast.

Q: What have been some of your initial impressions of Oxford and England in general?

A: Oxford is arguably the most diverse university in the world and I am absolutely blessed with highcaliber classmates both in terms of intelligence and character. Its value is not so much what’s learned in the classroom but rather the large range of people you get to interact with daily. Oxford encourages perspective-sharing in the classroom, in the cafes and in the pubs. Travel is also so much easier out of England. Here is a prime example of these two thoughts combined – flying to Iceland for the weekend in a friend group with people from the U.S., Canada, Singapore, India, Mexico, and South Korea to hike glaciers while discussing how to solve the world’s problems. Now that is a unique experience I will cherish forever!

Q: What advice would you give to students at any level who want to succeed and thrive like you have?

A: Stay humble, stay gritty, stay passionate. You will experience failure and doubt. I never made varsity soccer, I used to be unable to do a pull-up, I got a C-plus in West Point boxing. So, don’t let it wear you down – use it to reflect and move forward. You will never know exactly what you are doing 100 percent of the time. Stay humble and admit failure because that’s what develops grit and makes you relatable to others. Lastly, do not let hardship quell your passion. Just because your passion gets difficult, gets exploited or leads down an unanticipated path doesn’t mean you should let it go. Eager to serve, willing to lead – your passion is the “why” that motivates you through hard times to help people.

Q: Finally, you have a degree from West Point, you’re a Rhodes Scholar and now you’re studying at one of the most illustrious universities in the world. Where do you go from here to make the difference you want to see in the world?

A: Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf wrote in his autobiography that he never made a decision for his career, he went where he felt his abilities could serve others best. Right now, I know that I want to be the best Scout Platoon Leader for my soldiers that I can be. In the future, I feel that I can serve others best as an Army Civil Affairs Officer where I am responsible for building relationships with foreign populations. I have truly fallen in love with the Army culture, so I plan to stay in as long as I feel I am serving others to my greatest capacity. My greatest wish is to chase that feeling wherever it leads me. It hasn’t led me wrong yet!