THE GOOD, THE BAD AND ALL THE REST: CULVER STUDENTS TALK

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live at a military academy? To get an idea, Children's Express interviewed four students at Culver Military Academy.

RODRIGO QUINTANA, 16, Mexico City: My dad graduated here in 1959, and both of my brothers graduated here. . . . I've been coming here for six summers, and I decided to graduate here as well.

TRISTAM MARTIN, 17, Muncie: It was a better opportunity than out in the real world, so I decided to stick with it. Another reason was because my mother wanted me to be better-disciplined.

MATT REEVES, 18, Switzerland: I finished nine years of school, which are required in Switzerland, and did not see any more opportunities. My father grew up in Columbus, Indiana, and . . . he knew of this place and was supposed to come here when he was young. He decided to send me off to here to start a brand-new tradition at Culver. I don't regret it.

TRISTAM: I used to get in trouble a lot at home, and I really didn't care about anybody but myself. But by being here, you know, I learned to deal with everyone, since this is a multicultural school.

MATT: What Culver is about is educating yourself, getting the best education you can, preparing yourself for college, preparing yourself for life.

KEN RITTERBUSCH, 19, Canton Center, Conn.: One of the biggest assets that I've gained from coming here is not only the hands-on leadership experience . . . (but) because we're basically all dressed the same and in uniforms, you learn to appreciate people more for who they are than for what they look like.

MATT: You get a little more freedom here from not being harassed by your parents, but I miss home. I just look into the future and see how it's going to help me.

TRISTAM: I like being dependent upon myself because that means when I get out into the real world, I'll know what I want to do. I'll know what I need to do and I'll take responsibility for myself.

KEN: The biggest difference is attitude. Teachers at public school, at least where I came from back in Connecticut, they're there and they're teaching because it's their job and they've got to earn a paycheck somehow. Kids are there because by law they got to be there. . . . Most kids here are here because they want to be here. The teachers are here - at least they give the attitude - . . . because they want to help students learn, not just to make a livelihood.

KEN: One of the most priceless things that you're going to come away with from here, besides a top-notch education, is all the best friends that are going to be yours for the rest of your life.

TRISTAM: Culver is about finding yourself, opening your mind up to new ideas, opening your mind up to other ideas people might have. Holding yourself back for certain things . . . such as when someone is arguing with you, you know that it's stupid to sit there and argue with them back, so you will hold it in.

KEN: The atmosphere and the military here have given me a strong conviction that I would like to go to the United States Naval Academy. . . . I would like to become a naval aviator.

MATT: I guess (I'll) go to college and from there on I'm thinking of getting into politics. . . . Since Culver has given me this great discipline, this leadership, I think I can achieve anything I want.

EDITED BY: Eric Hauser, 14.