Boost intentions: local West Point cadet motivates students

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Staff
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Jordan Sorrenti takes a question during his talk with a class of 6th Grade students at the Marco Island Charter Middle School. Sorrenti, of Marco Island, will graduate in 2012 from West Point Academy as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Staff
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Sorrenti answers a question about the different uniforms that cadets wear. This shirt, he said, is more formal and is worn off-campus.

Exuding the confidence and demeanor that so typically defines members of the nation’s elite cluster of military schools, West Point Cadet Jordan Sorrenti enthralled young 6th grade charter school students during a recent class presentation.

Marco born-and-bred, and a graduate of Tommie Barfield Elementary, the Marco Island Charter Middle School and Lely High, Sorrenti used his spring break to make a number of local school stops.

He spoke and fielded questions about academy life in general, but had one overriding piece of advice: Make the most of school, he told the students, and apply yourselves.

School is the most important thing at this stage of life, he said, outlining how he’d had a couple of academic hiccups at high school and had to work his “butt off” to achieve his dream of entering the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Sorrenti, 20, is a second-year student, and at first was not accepted to the school. But, he said, he persevered and finally received his letter of approval.

During question time, Sorrenti said yes, you do get yelled at in the beginning.

“That’s to build you up and get you mentally tough,” he said, noting that there were times he felt like giving up, but had his “butt kicked into shape” from a former Lely JROTC instructor who sent him a letter containing some pertinent advice about quitting or not quitting.

Asked if he might end up in Afghanistan, for example, Sorrenti said the element of uncertainty made him unable to answer.

But he did say a commitment to the military — in his case the Army — entails basically doing what you’re told.

Answering another question, Sorrenti said there are dozens of sporting activities available to cadets like himself, but that he decided, instead, to concentrate more on his academics.

Afterwards, Sorrenti said he’d enjoyed talking at various schools, and that the Academy endorses the visits.

The thing they really want to emphasize, he reiterated, is concentrating on school work.