Cari Staples is a Mechanical Engineering major from Charleston, South Carolina. She is an Army contract and has been on the Dean’s List and Commandant’s List multiple times. Staples is also a member of The Citadel’s Sailing Club.

Why did you choose The Citadel? 

I chose The Citadel because I wanted to do something different than my peers, and I wanted to challenge myself. I also believed a military college would help better prepare me for my time in the Army.  

What does receiving the senior ring symbolize for you, and how does it reflect your journey over the past four years? 

Receiving our class rings is a very symbolic and important event. It is a culmination of the past four years, going through the trials and tribulations that make this place unique. It represents the literal blood, sweat and tears it has taken to make it here. More importantly, it represents the experience we have all had together, as a class, the Class of 2025. The relationships I have formed here with my classmates are unlike any other friendship I have had or do have outside of here. Going through a challenging system with your peers bonds you like nothing else, and now after all of that, we will receive our rings together. We have all been there for each other through good and bad times, and that makes this culminating event that much more special. 

How do you think the challenges and experiences at The Citadel have shaped the person you are today? 

I believe the challenges and experiences I have faced here at The Citadel have greatly changed me. They have formed me into a better leader, and better person, by building my resiliency, discipline and maturity. Everyone wants to be a better and stronger person, but fewer and fewer people in each generation are willing to go through the challenges it takes to better yourself. Part of my ring inscription reads, “Seek the Narrow Path.” This is inspired by a Bible verse, Matthew 7:13-14, which states, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” This is a timeless verse that applies more and more with each generation. 

Who has been the most influential person during your time at The Citadel, and how have they impacted your journey? 

There have been many influential people during my time here. My knob year cadre and leadership were probably the most influential as a whole, they did an excellent job of modeling what it means to be a good cadet and a good leader. They held us all to a high standard and made my company class very strong, as well as close with each other. 

If I were to pick just one person though, as the most influential during my time here, it would be my sophomore year First Sergeant, Vincent Massaro, who the following year served as Third Battalion Commander, and I became his Command Sergeant Major. He encouraged me to push myself and gave me the confidence to go for a position I might not have had without his guidance. When I became his NCO counterpart the following year, he mentored and taught me everything he had learned. Without this experience, I would likely not be where I am today. 

Is there a particular tradition or moment at The Citadel that stands out as your favorite? 

I enjoy almost all of the traditions we have here, but my favorite would have to be the Thanksgiving smoke and joke. Juniors and seniors get crazy hats to wear, we get a huge Thanksgiving meal in battalion and the knobs roast all the upperclassmen. It is a really fun time, and everyone gets some good laughs out. It is also right before Thanksgiving break, so spirits are high. Once you get back from Thanksgiving break there is only a short time before the semester is over, so it somewhat marks the end of the semester. 

If you could go back and give advice to your freshman self, what would you say and why? 

Enjoy every moment. Too often we get sucked into looking forward to the next event, Parents’ Weekend, Christmas, Recognition Day, getting parade deck privileges, receiving our rings and graduation. Each year flies by faster than the previous, and each one has its merits. Before you know it, you are a graduate. Enjoy every moment, the good and the bad, because once you graduate, you will miss it, and you will especially miss your friends. 

About The Citadel Class of 2025’s ring stories

Members of The Citadel Class of 2025 receive their rings on Friday, Sept. 27. Before getting their rings, some seniors spoke about the event’s significance with Cadet Zoe Crecos, the Regimental Public Affairs Officer for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Crecos, who is from Palm Beach, Florida, is a Marketing and Business Development major with a minor in Data Science. When she graduates, she will be pursuing a career in Supply Chain at Boeing in Charleston, South Carolina.