Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success.

LEXINGTON, Va. Aug. 13, 2024 — Antonio Ahanj ’24 speaks Spanish and Arabic and has visited nine countries while participating in study abroad programs at VMI. Ahanj’s multiple study abroad programs and intensive language learning opportunities have shaped his perspectives and skill set as an international studies major. He attributes much of his growth and success to the unique environment fostered at VMI, where supportive relationships and a culture of mentorship have played a crucial role for him. 

“VMI has been incredible in introducing me to so many people who have been instrumental in getting me to where I'm currently at,” said Ahanj.” Two individuals that come to mind are Mr. Todd Goen and Mrs. Patricia Hardin of the Office of Global Education.”  

Ahanj described instances where Hardei's support and advice greatly impacted his academic career, especially during challenging times such as the height of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I remember one night I started sending emails to her and, she responded saying, just keep it down, get through this, and then we'll start talking about things going on,” said Ahanj. “But from every step of the way in my VMI journey, she has helped me learn to be punctual with the things that I wanted to do, to be articulate in how I want, to road map things for myself and overall, she helped me understand what's the best way to take this experience that's already unique.” 

Ahanj described developing stress tolerance as another interpersonal skill during his time with VMI. 

“Through being abroad, I saw how much VMI benefited me, mainly in terms of  stress tolerance, things like that. You know, there's people from other schools there that are freaking out about, for lack of a better term, minor things,” said Ahanj about the stressors of study abroad programs such as police visits for visas and interactions made difficult by language barriers.  

Looking back, Ahanj credited Goen with his ability to plan for the success of his study abroad trips. 

“Especially beforehand, Mr. Goen really stressed to me about kind of looking back how I spent my experiences before and understanding what I did wrong,” said Ahanj. “Maybe I didn't do this enough, maybe I didn't interact with locals enough or participate in extracurriculars, things like that.”  

Ahanj went on to further detail how Goen introduced him to opportunities such as prestigious scholarships.  

“He helped me receive the CLS and Boren Awards, which are some of the best awards the Department of State can offer for language learning,” said Ahanj. “And recently he's been helping me navigate opportunities like Fulbright and other ones.” 

Ahanj said he used the skills and resources Geon and Hardin have provided him to prepare for his graduation in spring of 2024.  

“The lessons that they taught me are something that I'm going to take to heart and something I'm going to kind of carry with me through each thing that I do,” said Ahanj.  

When asked what his plans were for post-graduation, Ahanj said he is pursuing his aspirations of applying to the Department of State Foreign Service. He expressed deep gratitude for the guidance he received, and the sacrifices made by the faculty, highlighting the importance of being prepared. 

“That has been one of the biggest lessons that I've taken away from them, and I think that's going to be something that helps me years down, decades away, I'm still going to be drawing back on a lot of the things that I learned from them in terms of being able to kind of have that right mentality when approaching tasks, and furthermore, having the right mentality when approaching people to ask for help,” said Ahanj. 

Ahanj also credited VMI for instilling in him a sense of organization, confidence, and other valuable attributes that have proven highly effective in his daily life. 

“I owe so much of that to VMI, just in terms of entering this, you know, very stringent environment and being put in a position to find a way to thrive into that,” said Ahanj. “I do not think that even if I had the same opportunities at a different school, that I would have been able to get nearly as much out of it as I would if I did not go to VMI.” 

Rhita Daniel
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE