A big thing at West Point is the idea of your “47-month experience.” This takes place from when you show up in June until you graduate in May, 4 years later. At significant milestones, someone always mentions how many months are left. Of course, for the LDS cadets who leave on missions for 2 years, this number is totally insignificant so we joke about the 71-month experience.
This week I started my mission papers .(Yah! More paperwork) On Saturday, we were able to go to the Hartford, Connecticut Temple to support a young woman from the YSA branch as she received her Endowment. It was a great experience for everyone involved. I was the Cadet in Charge of the official trip section from West Point. It didn’t amount to much more than making sure everyone was in the van after every stop but it’s a leadership experience that looks great when your leadership and character grade is being determined. The two most recently returned missionaries were in the van with me and I spent the entire time picking their brains about missions. My experience with church here has been the greatest thing that I didn’t expect. Both the adults and cadets involved have inspired and supported my goals. When I chose to come here instead of BYU, I thought that I would be sacrificing my church experience. Between Institute, trips, and the relationships that I’ve formed, I don’t think my church experience could be much better.
I don’t actually have the pictures of everyone.
Congrats on starting your papers! Such memorable experiences.
Thanks for sharing your “church” experience while being at West Point. Loved hearing it!