Fork Union Military Academy: A Short Story

On a brisk January morning in 2014, a boy in the eighth grade stepped onto the campus of Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA); and little did he know it, but he was about to embark on an experience that would change his life. Walking through the cracked façade of the pea-green middle school academic building, anxiety and fear raced through his mind. Prior to his transfer to FUMA he attended Fluvanna County Public Schools, and things were going poorly. The report cards sent to his parents showcased his substandard performance. He had a poor work ethic, and worst off, he was indifferent to the whole ordeal; and so, later that year, his parents enrolled him in Fork Union Military Academy. That young boy was me, and as luck would have it, attending
However, this welcome was quickly followed up by his addressing what I did wrong. “I know it’s your first day, so you’re not in trouble, but for future reference you need to make sure that you are wearing your uniform correctly with your shirttail tucked in; and when you enter an officer’s office, you must salute and report in.” I was shocked! I had just walked in the door and already he was making sure that I did everything correctly, right down to the smallest details. Never in any other school that I had attended in the past had anyone seemed to care that much about what I did, and it was this kind of behavior from the rest of the faculty and many of my peers prompted me to raise my standards to that of a FUMA cadet. In such a short amount of time I had already formed close bonds with the faculty and my fellow cadets, and I didn’t want to let them down. So, I rose to meet those new standards that were set for me to the best of my ability. Fork Union Military Academy instills the core values of respect, integrity, faith, character, and discipline. Because of these core values and the support, I received from my parents and my school, I have become the man I am