South River Senior Heading to Air Force Academy

About this series: Patch stopped by South River High School on May 28 to speak with a few graduating seniors about their post-high school plans.

Before last year, South River senior Lauren Seidleck didn’t really know what she wanted to do after high school.

But then the 17-year-old attended a summer seminar at the Naval Academy and suddenly had the answer.

“The first couple of days I was at the seminar, I was like this isn’t for me—waking up at 4:30 and being yelled at all the time,” Seidleck said. “But after a while, I realized there was a reason 700 other kids were there too. You have to work as a team and help each other, and I think that’s really cool.”

Seidleck will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy next fall with the hope of one day becoming a pilot.

While Seidleck has never given much thought before to a military career, she said the seminar proved she could exceed her own expectations.

“There were certain things I thought I could never do,” Seidleck said. “We were doing push ups, and you’re like, 'There is no way I could do another one,' then you do ten more and that mental toughness sort of builds.”

Seidleck, whose family does not have any military background, was also accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, which is just a few miles from her home. But after a visit to Colorado Springs to tour the Air Force Academy, she knew it was the perfect fit for her.

“I went out to visit, and I just sort of fell in love with it,” she said. “It was awesome and the people there just sort of seemed awesome and you could tell they really liked it there.”

Seidleck plans to major in aerospace engineering or peruse a degree in a biomedical field. She credits her time in the South River STEM program with helping her prepare.

After Seidleck finished with her education at the Air Force academy, she will then serve her country for at least four years, which is something she said she looks forward to.

“I am definitely glad I have job security,” Seidleck said. “And I know it’s not a desk job. I will be on my feet doing something, which is what I want. I am kind of excited about it actually.”

Check back for more South River High School senior profiles.