|  | Arlington High School student heading to U.S. Naval Academy
5/19/2005 11:00 AMKa Xiong likes a challenge. That's why the Arlington High School senior takes as many advanced placement classes as she can. It's why she competes so hard on the softball field, even though she's slight in stature. And it's why she joined her school's Navy JROTC organization four years ago.
Today, Xiong's decision to get involved in the group that teaches civic engagement and self discipline has paid off--and opened a door to another challenge.
On Wednesday, May 18, Xiong became the first Arlington student to ever be accepted into one of the country's prestigious military academies.
During a ceremony with her fellow Navy Junior ROTC classmates, her teachers and dignitaries from several branches of the military, Xiong accepted her appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Each year, more than 14,000 students apply to the academy, but only about 1,200 are accepted. The value of the education is estimated to be more than $280,000.
"This is a big deal," said Lt. Cmdr. Steve White, leader of Arlington's JROTC program. "The Naval Academy is hard to get into, but she did it. She is one of the most focused people I have ever known, and she doesn't ever back down from a challenge."
And being accepted into the academy certainly qualifies as a challenge. The first time Xiong applied, she was not accepted.
"They said I was too short," said Xiong who is 4 feet, 10 1/2 inches tall. "But I didn't let that stop me. I live for challenges."
Over the next couple of months Xiong, White and even U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum contacted the academy and asked them to change their height requirements to allow the topnotch student-leader into the academy.
"I think we wore them down," said White. "But I'm not surprised. I believe Ka will do whatever she wants to do and be very successful, as she has always been."
Xiong is a 4.0 student who leads the JROTC program, plays softball and studies every chance she gets. And she credits Arlington's JROTC program with her success.
"I grew up in the program. When I started at Arlington I kept to myself and didn't talk a lot," she said. "But then I got involved in ROTC and I found my confidence. That's why I think I'll be successful at the academy. It will be a challenge, but that's not really a problem for me."
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