His sights are set on service

PUHI — Island School 2019 graduate Henry Scherer likes to stay active.

Swimming and air riflery, golf and cross country; he’s kept his parents hopping around the island for the six years the family has been on Kauai. Before that, the family was in Minnesota. Scherer was born in Tennessee.

“My family’s always been huge on travel and I’ve always been one that likes to go out, not sit around,” Scherer said.

He admits his family was happy when he finally got his drivers’ license and could take himself to practices and games, though they’re always there for support.

Through it all, Scherer has held onto one dream — a career in the military.

And by the end of the month he’ll be in Maryland, settling into life as a student at the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 2023.

The story starts when Scherer was 8 years old.

“I’ve always had a dream of wanting to go into the military, and my mom told me, ‘If you’re going to go into the military, go to an academy and you can be in the military and get a college education.’”

Scherer took the advice and, as a child, he set his sights on the Naval Academy. Nearly a decade later, he spent the summer of his junior year at the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, learning about what life would be like as a student.

A year after that, he applied and was accepted. That wasn’t the only entity that accepted him.

“I was lucky. I got into West Point (U.S. Military Academy) as well,” he said.

Hard work was also a key to Scherer’s success. He says the application process for service academies is demanding. In addition to requiring all of the regular essays and letters of recommendation for college applications, service academies require physical-fitness tests and a medical background test.

They also require applicants to get nominations from their state representatives.

“Since we’re over here on Kauai, I did Skype interviews with them,” Scherer said. “It’s a long process.”

It’s the mobility of the military that’s drawn Scherer to the Naval Academy. He sees it as a chance to build a life that’s active and keeps him physically fit and disciplined. He says it’s also a chance to try new things and see new places.

“Going to the Naval Academy, I’ve got opportunities to travel, (to check out) aircraft carriers and submarines, and to learn about the world, about technology and how our military does what it does,” Scherer said.

As he sets out on his newest adventure, Scherer says he’ll keep up with the swimming and playing sports. He’s also got a message for the world: “If you have a dream, no matter how big it is, you can accomplish it,” Scherer said. “I’d like my story to inspire people to go and accomplish what their heart desires.”

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Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.