I am the first female in my family to attend a military academy and to serve. Being fully aware that the admissions committee reads every section of an application, I struggled to ensure that my essays were creative enough to capture the attention of the admissions board. My essays needed to showcase what makes me unique, for example, my Greek cultural background as well as my athletic achievements in women’s wrestling. The admissions board receives hundreds of applications each academic cycle and I cannot stress enough how important it is that prospective cadets utilize their application to showcase what makes them special.

What I love most about the CGA are the opportunities. Let me give you an example of my personal experience. My senior year of high school I became the Tennessee State champion in Women’s wrestling. Women’s wrestling is a fast-growing sport, but there are few opportunities for women’s wrestling in STEM based universities. The CGA men’s wrestling coaches gave me the opportunity to join the team. Yes, it’s been challenging being the only female on the men’s team, but I am fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a sport I love.

I decided to major in Mechanical Engineering because of my obsession with Lego, especially the technical Lego that has working mechanisms and mechanical structures. It is fascinating to find solutions to technical problems and to build innovative products.

My advice to anyone interested in the Academy would be to apply. There will be challenges, but with these challenges come opportunities. For example, formal room and wing inspection, standing duty, and regimental review are challenging, but these experiences are shaping the future leaders of the Coast Guard.