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. 

LEXINGTON, Va. Sept. 29, 2025 — When Barrett Callejo ’27 arrived for her brother’s matriculation at Virginia Military Institute several years ago, she was still in high school. But the cadets asked her upon arrival if she had a dyke, or senior mentor. Callejo said she was taken aback, and explained it wasn’t her that was matriculating, but instead her brother.  

That moment stuck with her, along with how welcoming and excited the cadets were. “There were these strong, independent women. They were coming up to me and super excited that another female was trying to come to VMI. To me, that was cool seeing that in person,” she explained. 

She was then inspired when she was recruited for soccer to come to VMI to be that example. 

“Being on the soccer team and meeting everybody, it has pushed me to emulate what those other strong, independent women have done as well,” she said.  

Callejo knew she wanted to attend a military college, but it wasn’t until she had a visit with the soccer team that it solidified her decision. 

“The thing that really stuck out the most about VMI, overall, that led me to coming to this team, was their culture on the team,” she admitted. “When I was a recruit and I came in, I remember the team being so incredibly welcoming to me. Even though I wasn't part of the team yet, they still treated me like I was one of them already, and that was really special to me. I already felt like I was a part of that family.” 

As her time continues at VMI, so does her growth in duties. Shouldering more responsibility, Callejo said it’s been rewarding. She currently serves as part of cadre, specifically a guide sergeant with Foxtrot Company, where she serves as a mentor to those in her company. 

“Being an upperclassman, you take on a lot more responsibilities," she said. "You look up to all those upperclassmen and all those independent women, but now you are one of them. You're going to be that person that the freshmen can look up to, whether it be on the team or even up on the hill, because I'm a part of the cadre team. I have a couple girls in my company, and I'm hoping to be a role model for them as well.” 

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. 

Last year, Callejo served as a corporal on cadre. Serving as a corporal, she found she had a lot of influence on those below her, allowing her to lead while she was being led. She found another female guide sergeant while she was serving as a corporal, who was a big influence on her to continue being on cadre.  

"When you're a corporal as a 3rd Class cadet, you have a lot of influence upon the rats just because you're with them so much as a corporal,” she said. 

Having a packed day, Callejo, a biology major, has had to prioritize a couple things this year. With her role on cadre, being on the soccer team, keeping up with athletics, and more, it caused her to drop a class from 19 credit hours to 16 credit hours — primarily because she will be studying for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) this semester.  

“I just kept putting a lot of things onto my plate, plus being in season and the traveling,” she explained.  

The way she handles it is by writing everything down at the beginning of the week. Her Sundays consist of coming up with a game plan for her week and how she will tackle it. Whenever she gets overwhelmed, she goes for a run or hangs out with her teammates or friends.  

"Everybody on the team is one of my closest friends," she commented. "I never thought I would make friends this tight. I'm closer with all of these girls I've known for three years now than I have other people that I've known for my entire life. But it's not only just a team. I have some friends that I've met just being a cadet here, and they're my closest friends.” 

She’s not only created bonds with her peers, but also with her professors.  

"Having professors on your side and having good relationships with professors has really helped me and has given me a lot of cool opportunities and positions at school as well,” she said.  

“I've had some good bonds with a lot of the professors in the chemistry and biology departments, and they've asked me for the past two years to help tutor for their classes. That not only helps the underclassmen who I tutor, but also, it's helped me personally to go over all the basic stuff.” 

Those opportunities include being part of Tri Beta, a biology honor society and working on Summer Undergraduate Research Institute projects with the potential of being published. 

Her piece of advice: don’t study in barracks, there’s too much distraction. 

“I think studying is the best way to escape from all of the hectic stuff that happens up on the hill,” she said. 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE