This week’s edition of #FirstieFriday features MIDN 1/C Dayton Bottom from Hermosa Beach, CA! Dayton is a Political Science (honors) major with a minor in Mandarin and a member of 11th company where he serves as the drill officer and a squad leader. He is part of the ski and intramural cross country teams and enjoys running, playing guitar, reading, camping, and skiing whenever he gets the chance. His favorite summer trainings have been completing his language study abroad program (LSAP) in Singapore, his sub cruise aboard USS Rhode Island, and Leatherneck in Quantico, VA. The culture of the Navy and Marine Corps has always stood out to him, and he has felt called to serve ever since learning about the academy. He is motivated by his peers who continue to impress him, and wishes to live up to their company and to earn the respect of those around him every day. Dayton reflects on his I-day experience and hearing the drums beat as he marched through the center doors of T-court, and ...