Two Marshfield teens have the same destination: The US Naval Academy

MARSHFIELD – Ngoc Vo and Grace Burgoyne grew up in the same town, but they went to different high schools, had different friends and lived in different neighborhoods, and they never crossed paths until a matching pair of coveted college acceptance letters landed in their inboxes.

Next month, the two Marshfield residents will together head to Annapolis, Maryland, and join the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2027.

“The second I stepped onto the yard and I met all the people, I absolutely fell in love with it,” Burgoyne, 17, said of her new school. "I knew that that was exactly where I wanted to go. It’s just such a community of driven and determined people."

Students at the academy, called midshipmen, earn a bachelor's degree in their choice 25 different majors and must go on to serve at least five years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Vo and Burgoyne will participate in rigorous training sessions this summer and hone their skills in swimming, martial arts, basic rock climbing and endurance.

Burgoyne plans to pursue a degree in political science and Vo, 18, plans to major in mechanical engineering. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren sponsored Burgoyne's application to the military academy and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating sponsored them both.

“You could have amazing grades and be the best on your sports team, but at the end of the day the Naval Academy is training you to be an officer in the Navy, so if you can’t lead people and be confident in your decisions and have problem-solving skills, then you’re not going to be able to lead on a destroyer,” said Burgoyne, who hopes to fly Hawkeye helicopters.

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Vo, who grew up in Vietnam and goes by the name MJ, said she has wanted to join the military since her family immigrated to the United States when she was 10 years old.

“I saw women of color who were also strong, motivated and were great leaders, and to me I feel like it’s very important to represent because I was born in Vietnam," she said. "I just wanted to prove that a small Asian woman could also be in the military."

When Vo got her acceptance letter, she was in her government class at Marshfield High School.

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“The day before, I was driving back from a college tour at (the University of Michigan),” Vo said. “The day after, at 7:30 a.m., I checked my email and I saw my letter of assurance and I was so excited, I emailed I think all of my teachers.”

Burgoyne was at home constantly checking her email when she got the good news. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, Burgoyne was recruited to play volleyball during her junior year at Notre Dame Academy. She will join the volleyball team as a middle blocker.

“I started crying,” Burgoyne said of reading her acceptance letter.

Vo and Burgoyne said they are mentally prepared for the rigorous and challenging years ahead of them.

“With sports, mental toughness is a huge part of it,” Burgoyne said. “One of my favorite things that Lebron James does is that he meditates. I meditate before all big sports games and big tests.”

Vo said she deals with pressure by talking to the friends she has already made at the academy and to family members.

“Doing it together, doing it with someone else as a team really helps me push through no matter how hard it is,” Vo said.

Reach Joel Barnes at jkbarnes@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Marshfield girls Vo, Burgoyne commit to Naval Academy