PREPARED TO EXCEL
LaSalle alum graduates from U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Growing up in the Capital Region, Gerald Fitzhugh McDonough knew that attending La Salle Institute would help prepare him for West Point Academy.
“I think [going to La Salle Institute was] the biggest thing for me that helped prepare me — and not just exclusive to prepare me for West Point, but I think preparing anyone for the college experience,” said McDonough, when asked about how La Salle Institute helped prepare him for his future.
“I would say to any parents who are considering sending their son or any young man who is considering going to La Salle, about what an excellent investment it is in your future.”
After learning many leadership skills during his four years at La Salle Institute, the Bethlehem native, was accepted into West Point Academy after graduating from La Salle Institute in 2013.
Now, four years later, McDonough is officially a graduate of West Point Academy.
During his time at La Salle Institute, McDonough, who is called “Fitz” by family and friends, was the captain of the football and lacrosse teams, and president of the Student Senate.
“At La Salle, I always got the feeling, no matter what class I was in, that everybody in the class was actively trying not only to do their best, but to raise everybody else’s level to their best,” said McDonough.
While at West Point he concentrated on his studies in history, and played on the Army “Sprint” Football team for four years.
After graduating from West Point last week, McDonough will soon be a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He is expected to report to Fort Bragg for assignment with the 82nd Airborne following completion of the Army Basic Officer Leader Course and Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga.
McDonough said he was able to learn a lot about himself during his ups and downs at West Point.
“What they say at West Point is that on any given day you’re going to fail three, four, five times and that’s OK, and you just have to learn to live with that, and you have to learn how to channel that failure into constructively rebuilding yourself to excel for the next time you meet that challenge,” said McDonough.
The West Point graduate also said he was able to overcome some of those challenges at West Point a little easier from what he learned while at La Salle.
“La Salle approaches that
much the same way: you’re encouraged to get out of your comfort zone at La Salle, you’re encouraged to do things that you’ve never done before and in doing so that’s scary; sometimes you’re going to fail or it’s not going to work out,” said McDonough.
“But La Salle is extremely geared towards encouraging you to get out of that comfort zone, helping you once you’re outside of your comfort zone and when you’re out of your comfort zone, and it doesn’t work out, then channeling your effort and your energy into improving yourself so that you can be able to achieve that the next time it comes around.”