Realizing Grit: A Cadet Mother's Reflection

<p>During this interview, a parent shares how her son knew early he was going to West Point, despite not coming from a military family, after hearing a field force representative and valuing the academy’s structure, mission, and camaraderie. She describes preparing through parent clubs, Zoom FAQs, and advice from a West Point mom, and recounts a different 2021 R-Day experience and the difficulty of limited contact during Beast, highlighted by the mid-summer phone call and March Back. The conversation covers her son handling club tryout rejections, finding a fit with Sandhurst and Black and Gold, later serving as company commander, never doubting West Point, branching Infantry, and the harder transition from cadet “bubble” to big Army. Key advice: get involved, ask questions, support other cadets, and attend events when possible.</p><p><br /></p>