What are midshipmen like?
It takes a special kind of young man or woman to handle the Naval Academy’s demanding program, but that does not mean all midshipmen are alike. Midshipmen have roots in cities, suburbs, farms and ranches, small towns and military bases. They have talents and hobbies of every kind and personalities that fit every description, and they represent the diverse ethnic and cultural heritages that, together, make the United States a great nation. Some characteristics seem to be common among Naval Academy midshipmen, however. Midshipmen are good students, leaders in their high schools and communities and participants in competitive sports. But other common qualities of midshipmen don’t show up in statistics. The young men and women who choose the Naval Academy are looking for more than a college degree. They like the idea of being challenged mentally, physically and personally. They are people who don’t want to settle for the ordinary, the routine or the easy. Midshipmen are also patriots. They
