LOVELOCK - Pershing County High School senior Nico Rodriguez spent a week at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., from June 1-6.
Rodriguez said he jumped at the invitation because wanted to see if he could handle the ruggged physical and academic requirements of the academy.
"This week made me more determined to get into the academy. If I can succeed in the academy, I can succeed anywhere," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he was grateful to Lovelock American Legion Post 6 for sponsoring his airfare to Annapolis.
A typical day for Rodriguez was to wake up to upper classmen yelling for the Plebe wannabes to get up and get into formation. Then was physical training in the yard, shower, then breakfast and workshop classes that simulated class time during the school year.
Following morning classes there was more yelling with afternoon formation, then lunch and more workshops. The evening brought more physical training, evening formation, dinner, then study period and bed. At the end of the day, Rodriguez said he was ready for sleep.
One day was different than the rest. This was sea trial, a seven-hour day of non-stop rigorous physical training, which included obstacle courses, log lifting, field competitions, running, exercising in the ocean waves and crawling in the sandy beach. Many of the exercises were team-building drills, Rodriguez said. Through it all he said the classmates would give encouragement to each other.
"It was the hardest, but it was my favorite," Rodriguez said.
"You can't take the yelling personal. They do it to make you great," he said. "They take a man and break him down and build him back up and turn him into an officer. They don't want weak people leading their soldiers."
Although he would really like to get into the Naval Academy, Rodriguez said he is still keeping his options open and has also applied to the U.S. Air Force. Whereever he goes he plans to major in math and minor in foreign language. Rodriguez currently holds a 4.182 GPA.
If accepted into the Naval Academy he would serve five years in the Navy after graduation.
"I would see how the five years go and maybe enlist again," Rodriguez said.
"What really makes me want to get into the Naval Academy is the camaraderie. I made some really good friends in that one week. We all have the same goal to be the best that we can. I don't think there would be as much distraction there as in a regular college," Rodriguez said.
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