Behind the Balance: Camden Gonzales ’28 — Keydet Men’s Cross Country 

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

Camden Gonzales ’28 wasn’t even sure he was going to continue to run cross country at Virginia Military Institute when he finished the season last year.  

“I kind of lost the love for it,” he admitted.  

Now he’s India Company’s first platoon sergeant and captain of the team. 

“It’s going to sound weird, but I kind of enjoyed the Rat Line, and I wanted to do cadre last year, but I didn’t really get the opportunity to,” he said. “This year I really wanted to go for it. I really enjoy what they do, so I took the opportunity, applied for rank, and it’s crazy going from someone who didn’t have rank to getting a high position like this.” 

Although it can be overwhelming sometimes, balancing his rank position, being captain, academics, and other cadet duties, it’s rewarding for Gonzales.  

“It’s a lot, but I’m really grateful for the opportunity. It really pushes me too, which is very beneficial for my personal growth,” he said. “It feels good. I feel like I’m involved a lot more within the Corps, which is what I wanted to do overall too.” 

His path to VMI was sort of bred into him. His father is an alumnus and ran cross country and track. 

“I came up here a lot as a kid and I knew a lot about the place,” he said. “I attended an open house and it was really eye opening to see what goes on here, and it ended up being the only place I applied.” 

He said his father had a lot of influence on his decision but never pushed him to attend VMI. 

“He was really big on it being my own decision.” 

Originally, Gonzales wanted to play soccer. He played throughout high school and it was his favorite sport. He chose to run cross country to keep in shape during the off season.  

“I wanted to play soccer here, but that didn’t quite work out.” 

Instead, he got a call from the cross country coach at VMI and was offered to run for the Institute. 

The computer science major is taking 18.5 credits and has to balance three-hour daily practices along with cadre duties.  

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

He learned how to juggle his schedule during his time at the Institute. He has enough time in the middle of the day to get a lot of his schoolwork done. He knew that he had to find a way to excel in all his responsibilities.  

“I wanted to hold rank because in high school I was not the best student. But ever since coming here, I’ve learned so many new techniques to study,” he said. “Time management has been the big thing that I’ve learned. Holding rank and being a team captain, it’s a lot, but I’ve figured it out. I’m really happy that this school has taught me how to do that.” 

Those skills will translate to him later in life.  

“The leadership skills and management skills that I’ve learned here are going just affect me significantly, he explained. “I’d like to go into the civilian area and work within my major, which is with data and software engineering. Being able to manage a group of people while also having time to get stuff that I need to get done, this place has just helped me with that so much.” 

Looking back at himself when he was a rat, he sees a totally different person.  

“Rat year, I was really here testing the waters. I was not the best student, I did my work but wasn’t the best,” he said. “Now after the two years that I’ve been here, all the study habits, all the time management skills have just shaped me to be where I almost want to be. I don’t think I’m 100% where I want to be, but we’re pretty close.”