Getting The Most Out Of West Point: A Determined Youth Finds His Rockbound Highland Home

Antonio White grew up in Florida, living in Orlando and Live Oak. Much of his childhood was turbulent, and his parents kicked him out of the house when he was sixteen. After a period living with friends, he moved in with his father. That arrangement was fleeting, and he ended up living at the Sheriff’s Boy’s Ranch in Live Oak. Always a gifted athlete, he began to turn his life around when he started striving to excel in academics, joining the IB (International Baccalaureate) program. He was fortunate to develop a strong group of friends, and to find supportive adults in his life who helped guide his path to success. By his senior year in Suwannee High School, he was class president and a mentor to others, a role that helped him as much as it helped them. Colleges started to take note of his abilities, and he was recruited by Yale and Harvard, traveling by himself to visit those campuses. An influential friend suggested he consider the Military Academy, and he applied, meeting with his congressman and coming to West Point for an overnight visit. Beast Barracks was a challenge because he “bucked a lot,” but he appreciated the lessons of Schofield’s Definition of Discipline. He walked on to the football team and played a year at wide receiver, offering to set up tutoring sessions for other players. He felt that he had practiced the “Thayer method” his whole life, and he enjoyed helping others. He became a “writing fellow” with the Mounger Writing Center, and helps manage tutors for other classes as well. Currently, he is on the rugby team, and participates in the yoga club, the Diversity Forum, and the Cultural Affairs Seminar. Antonio always strives to make the most out of any situation and looks for the positive in everything. He appreciates West Point, stating, “I did not expect to fall in love with this place.”