Book excerpt: For the thousands of students who apply every year for one of the four military academies, slogging through the numbing concatenation of decisions preceding a nomination, there is no greater intimidation than the statistically likely event that they will try and fail. Thats an examination into the pithiness of moral fiber important to the USNA, and eulogized by James Stockdale, USNA 46 and Medal of Honor Winner: "The test of character is not 'hanging in there' when you expect a light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty and persistence of example when you know that no light is coming. This is the true story of how one All-American kidlike those many that applydid it. She had no idea she could aim so high and succeed so succinctly. Her research into the typical Midshipman uncovered a profile alarmingly like herself. If she dreamt of attending a college where she fit in and attracted kindred souls, this qualified. When you first meet Meaghan, you may wonder, why does she think an Ivy League school will accept her? She doesnt earn straight As or play quarterback on the football teamor center on the volleyball squad. I describe in detail her background, her academic interests, her focus, as well as her struggle to put together a winning admissions package. Along the way, you gain insight into the moral fiber that grounds everything she does and allows her to fight the good fight. The support from family and friends, and decisions she must make that superficially appear impossible for an adolescent, but are in fact achievable for thousands of like-minded teens.