Alumni Update: Brian Humphrey Jr. '19 - Life at West Point

At St. Paul’s, we love keeping up with our graduates and seeing the remarkable paths they pursue. We recently caught up with alum, Brian Humphrey Jr. '19, who has taken his commitment to service, leadership, and learning to an extraordinary level. Now a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point and on track to become an Army physician, Brian reflects on daily life at the Academy, the challenges and rewards of military training, and the foundation St. Paul’s helped build. Read on to learn how his experiences here shaped his goals—and the advice he has for today’s students.

 

 

High School: Rockhurst High School, 2023

University and Anticipated Graduation Year: West Point - United States Military Academy, 2027

Current City: West Point, NY

Anticipated Profession/Role: Army Physician

 

 

Can you describe what school is like for you? What’s a day-in-the-life like at West Point?

During an average day at West Point, I wake up around 0600 and prepare for morning formation, uniform inspection, and mandatory breakfast in the mess hall at 0645. However, if I choose to run, swim, or hit the gym in the morning I will wake up at 0500. After that, I will have class from 0740 until 1150, then go straight into lunch formation. After that, I will go back to class until around 1500. Once that is done, I will usually head to practice until around 1900, grab dinner, and then do homework or study until around 2300, and then do it all over again the next day.

 

What are your favorite things about your training? Are there any aspects that you find challenging?

The training at West Point is extremely diverse. During the academic year, we are still required to take Physical Classes. I’ve taken a boxing class, a military movement class with rope climbing and tumbling, and even a survival swimming class. These were challenging classes, but they gave me an opportunity to explore different parts of my athletic ability.

Additionally, each summer you have some sort of military training. Before my freshman year, I completed Cadet Basic Training which required quick and abrupt assimilation to military culture, and I could not talk to any family or friends for six weeks. Last summer, I completed Cadet Field Training, which included Field Exercises – a.k.a trips to the woods –  to practice setting up patrol bases, detecting an enemy, land navigation during the nighttime, and shooting rifles under nighttime lenses. After Cadet Field Training, I completed Air Assault school where I learned how to sling loads, prepare equipment for flight, and rappel out of a helicopter from 70 feet above the ground.

 

How do you like to spend your free time? Any hobbies?

Although I don’t have much free time, the most important thing I do in my free time is call family, especially being so far away from them. I also recently gained my certification as an Emergency Medical Responder, so I get to go on ambulance rides in my free time. Other weekends, I volunteer with young athletes in the Highland Falls Special Olympics program. I’ve also had fun exploring New York City with friends, going to dinner, thrift shopping, and I even got to see Harry Potter on Broadway.

 

It’s clear you are very involved in sports. How do you balance your academics, athletics, and military training?

I try to make sure I keep my military training mainly in the summer, that way I can focus on my grades and my fitness during the academic year. However, it can still be hard to balance everything and still have time to decompress. My trick for balancing everything is to look at everything as fun, because when I start to see things as a job it becomes draining quickly. I also usually delete apps like Instagram during the week, so that I can limit as much distraction as possible.

 

What are your goals and plans once you go into active military service after graduating?

 Right now, I am hoping to get a spot to branch into the Medical Service Corps, which is reserved for West Point Cadets looking to go straight to Medical School after graduating. This would be paid for by the Army as well, but I would also incur a 4-year service obligation in addition to the 5 years I already owe. However, this service would all be as an Army Doctor, which is my ultimate goal for the future. 

 

How do you think St. Paul’s prepared you for your future?

St. Paul’s prepared me for my future by showing me there is so much more that this world has to offer. I don’t know a single other school that allowed me to travel to Florida, Colorado, and Spain as only a middle school student. Going to a foreign country especially showed me the importance of learning about other cultures and perspectives, which is especially valuable for military service. 

 

What advice do you have for current St. Paul’s students?

My advice to current St. Paul’s students is to dream as big as possible. St. Paul’s prepared me and my classmates to be exceptional. While I am studying at a Military Academy, my classmates are now studying on both coasts and even abroad in Paris. Some of my other classmates are starting businesses or doing internships at the capital. I say that because hopefully we can all serve as a blueprint to achieving the unthinkable. I hope St. Paul’s students believe that they are truly capable of branching out and making a positive impact on the world, because they are.

 

We're so proud of Brian for all he's accomplished in just a few years since he graduated from St. Paul's and high school! He's a excellent role model for current St. Paul's students and generations of students to come. Click here to learn more about what some of our alumni are up to in our local community and around the world.