Local FMS Grad Praises His School
Story by Calvin Trice/NewsLeader.com
School came easily to Alexander Burkard, until middle school required him to study. Then it started to come hard, he said.
“In middle school, I started to have to study, and I had no idea how to do that, so I started to fail,” recalled Burkard, 17.
Burkard’s parents gave him a choice: He could be on lockdown at his public school for the eighth grade — meaning no extracurricular activities — or he could choose a private school where he’d get the academic attention he needed.
He chose Fishburne Military School. He graduated with distinctions this month.
“I always had an interest in the military, and I chose to come here,” Burkard said the day before his graduation day.
He played soccer, lacrosse and ran cross country. He also swam and wrestled. The lockdown idea wasn’t going to work for him. Besides, he said, Fishburne’s small student population makes it easy to participate in varsity sports.
“The nice thing about the school is that you don’t have to try out,” he said. “You can just sign up.”
And even though they could just sign up, Fishburne’s track and field team placed in several events in a recent state independent schools association meet. Burkard placed third in the two-mile run.
The structure and small student-to-teacher ratio helped him get his grades back up.
“You can talk to teachers about things — ask questions,” he said.
He enjoyed being able to meet people from all over the country and other nations, he said.
Always interested in science and medicine, Burkard plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University and study premed, he said. He reflected fondly on his time at Fishburne.
“It’s been an interesting road,” he said. “I got to meet a lot of people, and make a lot of connections. “I’ve matured a lot.”
Pets. Two chocolate Labrador Retrievers, “Mia” and “Lucia”
Hobby. Flying glider planes.
Favorite foods. Lasagna and any steak
Favorite TV show. The Office
Favorite team. Pittsburgh Steelers
Favorite player. Troy Polamalu
Places you’d like to visit. Bora Bora, Venice, Germany
Favorite movie. Inception
Favorite subjects. Philosophy and politics
