The Corps Is People: Building Relationships And Support At West Point

Michael Manetti grew up in Freeport, Maine, with his parents. Both his mother and father were lawyers, but his mother now practices Chinese medicine (Acupuncture). As a young boy, he was always interested in history, specifically the Revolutionary War. In high school, he began rowing on the crew team. He was intrigued by the story of his maternal grandfather, who had been a reserve medical officer serving the Nationalist Chinese (Taiwan), and that influenced him to attend West Point. Now in his Yearling year (sophomore), he is majoring in International History with a Chinese minor. During the spring (COVID) semester of 2020, he remained at home and his classes were a mix of synchronous and asynchronous. In this interview, he talks about his family history and his experiences at West Point. He recalls his struggles getting through the “Cadet in the Red Sash,” and expresses the enjoyment he derives from being a member of the crew team. He reflects on the peer-support he receives as a member of the Corps of Cadets, and explains what West Point means to him.