Farrah Scott Accepted at West Point

By Bridget Sheahan

Farrah Scott, BHS Class of 2024, will be attending West Point Military Academy in the fall. Located in West Point, NY, it is a highly ranked and decorated academy, especially in STEM fields.

Scott is planning on majoring in environmental science and considering a minor in Spanish. Her ultimate goal is to become a meteorologist for the U.S. military, working in a military intelligence and investigation unit. This job would entail finding and relaying weather and climate information between military bases. At West Point, she will be on the dance team and is also hoping to study abroad in Spain. She will be trying out for the track and field team.

West Point is incredibly selective with its goal of not only providing their students with a quality education, but also preparing them to serve in the military. The application process is very different from typical colleges. Along with standard components such as a transcript, personal essay, and extracurriculars, the application also requires passing medical and physical assessments. The physical assessment consists of pull ups, push-ups, and a timed mile. 

Scott said that Summer Leaders Experience, a military boot camp that she attended last summer, prepared her well from the physical assessments as well as solidified her choice of applying to West Point as her primary school.

The most important and separating factor of the application process is that all applicants must receive a nomination from a member of the United States House of Representatives or the Senate. 

The nomination process consists of submitting a resume and a short essay and completing an interview. Scott received sponsorships from U.S. Representative Katherine Clark and U.S. Senator Ed Markey, along with the presidential nomination that is available for any military child. What was most surprising for Scott, however, was that after she submitted her application, she was also awarded the U.S. Vice President nomination that is considered to be the most selective sponsorship in the country. 

Another difference about attending a military academy is that after graduating, everyone must serve at least five years active duty and four years reserve in the military. Active military service is equivalent to a full-time job in a respective field. Reservists maintain skills in a civilian job while reporting for military training one weekend a month.

Scott’s parents are proud and supportive of her decision to carry on the military service tradition of her family. Her father, Lt. Col. Glenn Scott, has served in the Army. He said that “this appointment to West Point is a testament to her academic excellence, leadership skills, hard work, and commitment to her community.” 

Her family members are all “incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to seeing her continue to excel at West Point.”

Scott is fully passionate and committed to becoming a military officer, but growing up, she was not always certain that she wanted to go into the military. Her father being in the Army allowed

her to witness first-hand the sacrifices and incredible dedication that were crucial to be able to perform. It was evident to her how extremely difficult it is serving in the military. 

Scott has grown to love her life as a military child, and cherishes the unique and adventurous experiences it has granted her, including living in Germany, Connecticut, North Carolina, Maryland, and Hanscom Air Force Base. 

However, being in a military family requires a lot of adjusting, sudden changes, and being apart from each other for long periods of time. Those are realities she was not sure she wanted to carry into her own adult life. 

Also, like many, Scott associated the military with war and violence and she did not want to be involved in more global suffering and unrest. 

However, her stance completely changed after she joined JROTC during her junior year at Bedford High School. She heard military personnel speak about their experiences and the wide array of opportunities and jobs the military has to offer. 

Scott started to do more research on her own and learned that “they do a lot of humanitarian work, too, and that’s what I want to do. I want to help people in the U.S. as well as other countries.”  

Throughout this whole experience, Scott has realized she “believes in the strength of the military without violence.”

Her mother, Tanya Scott, voices the same appreciation for the military’s humanitarian work. She said, “what brought me comfort in Farrah taking on this adventure is that the military gets involved in peacemaking missions. Farrah has a kind heart, strong mind, and beautiful soul” which will allow her to do “great in this noble profession she has chosen.” 

The more Scott looked into it, the more she realized how the military may be a perfect fit for her. 

Living at Hanscom and being a member of ROTC, she found a strong sense of community and comradery that is incredibly meaningful to her. 

Sergeant Charlie Humphrey, Scott’s JROTC instructor, has high praise for her character and accomplishment. 

“Farrah is an outstanding leader and overall professional,” he said. “She is an intelligent, capable, and personable young woman who is quick on her feet, and I feel confident in saying she can handle any situation with thoughtfulness and maturity. Her productivity, determination, and perseverance make her an exceptional asset to the West Point Academy.” 

Another factor that influenced Scott’s decision is that military work can be very physically demanding. That fits her lifestyle well because she grew up loving playing sports and fitness is a big aspect of her life. She also likes the discipline and set structure the military provides and believes that the fast paced environment will keep her busy and engaged.

Farrah feels very confident in her choice and excited for the future because in her opinion, “West Point highlights this value of strength through comradery and innovation, not violence, as a foundational goal of their institution.”