Fighting for what he believes in - Harvard Gazette

Blake Lusty grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, raised by his mother, and developed a strong commitment to serving in the Navy. He volunteered at a Veterans Administration hospital and was influenced by his grandfather’s work on early reconnaissance aircraft from World War II. Lusty aimed for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis despite limited connections and resources, viewing his acceptance as a guiding sign. He loved the Academy’s structure and shared mission and valued aligning personal beliefs with an organization larger than himself. In 2010, during his sophomore year, he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer affecting lymph nodes and lungs. He continued classes and exams while receiving aggressive chemotherapy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

"Blake Lusty grew up sure of two things: He wanted to serve his country in the Navy, and he would always fight for what he believed in. A late-stage cancer diagnosis at age 20 only steeled his resolve. The first in his family to pursue a college education, Lusty was raised by his mother in St. Petersburg, Florida."

"“Mom worked incredibly hard to make ends meet, often working multiple jobs,” he said. Through it all, she encouraged him to consider the wider world, saying, “Think about the time we have and how we can make a difference.” Lusty volunteered at a Veterans Administration hospital near his home as a teen and spent a lot of time with his grandfather, who as a Canadian farm boy had worked on early iterations of reconnaissance aircraft used in World War II."

"He had set his sights on the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, but with no special connections, let alone resources, it was a longshot given the institution's storied history. However improbable, the decision turned out to be “divine intervention.” “It’s one of those things in my heart that I knew that was the right step for me,” Lusty said."

"In 2010, Lusty's sophomore year, tragedy struck. He was diagnosed with late-stage cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes and lungs. Determined not to let it derail his education, Lusty juggled classes and exams while undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center."

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