Cadet Sam Hollander reflects on his journey through high school

“Sam, you are not living up to your potential.” That phrase defines the first half of my academic life. I attended a small private school throughout my elementary and middle school years, enrolled in a large public high school, and then made the choice to come to a small military boarding school. I have seen it all, and in the end, I am proud to say that I found what works for me.

I started my high school career as “the new kid.”  At my small middle school, I had established myself as the “cool kid,” my peers trusted me, my classmates’ parents knew me as a polite and well spoken young man, and my teachers thought I was intelligent and an excellent addition to classroom discussions. The problem was, I just was not doing any work outside of school, none. Looking back, I can not justify my lethargic study habits, but I can offer that I had made up my mind to attend public high school, and felt that homework was a waste of my time. Of course, when I finally hit high school, I was in for a rude awakening.

I remember my first day of high school quite well. I remember feeling totally alone, helpless and scared, wandering around the halls of a building I had set foot in perhaps twice prior to my matriculation. I also remember recognizing different cliques, not unlike my old school, yet much more defined.  Cliques were law in high school; they even established their own seating territories in the cafeteria. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced.  Immediately, however, I realized who was cool and who was not. I was so accustomed to being the person my peers looked up to, it never dawned on me that I would have to earn this privilege again. I set out at once to make friends as quickly as possible. Homework was superseded by frivolous attempts to get invited to the upcoming weekend parties. In an effort to become someone others looked up to, I lost touch with who I was.

By the end of my sophomore year I was back on top, I was considered one of the popular kids; basically, I had assimilated. But after nearly two years of conforming, I had let grades slip. I had hurt relationships with family; I didn’t feel like myself. I continued until the end of my junior year, when, finally realizing the toll my irresponsibility was having on my family and myself, I made the choice to leave public high school. I first began to look for alternatives close to home. Although there were many small boarding schools within driving distance of my house, I thought getting a fresh start in a more distant location would be in my best interest. It was at this point that I brought up the idea of a military school to my parents. Military high schools in America are becoming a rarity and carry a negative connotation that is terribly misplaced. With my parents’ support, after viewing several military schools, I chose Fishburne. Knowing that my grade point average was in serious need of repair, I decided to completely redo my junior year. Needless to say, I was ready to make the turn around I desperately needed.

I adapted quickly to Fishburne’s traditional military structure. I gained the position of squad leader right out of my initiation period.  I distinguished myself both inside and outside of the classroom. I am truly proud of what I have accomplished at Fishburne. It has fostered in me a sense of duty, integrity, and most of all honor. I stopped caring about how I looked to others, and began to care about how I felt about myself. I have learned that self respect comes from within not from the opinions of others. I am now a captain and a company commander; I am now respected for who I am, and what I have done, not for who I know. I have gained compassion for others, as well as the strength to stand up for what is right. I am now a leader and I am becoming the man I always wanted to be.

Cadet Hollander, seated on the end (right), plans to attend The Citadel or Norwich University next fall.