Burroughs High School senior Dustin Bui, a dedicated student-athlete and leader, has received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy (USNA), choosing a path of service for his future.
Bui also received appointments to the other U.S. service academies before selecting Annapolis.
“For me, the United States Naval Academy isn’t just about getting a degree,” said Bui. “I wanted something bigger than a normal college experience. I wanted to be pushed academically and physically, and to develop as a leader every single day. I realized that there’s no higher calling than the service of your own country.”
The appointment is especially meaningful for Bui, who sees it as a way to give back to the country for everything it has done for his family as refugees. The Academy offers him a top-tier education and the chance to swim at the Division 1 level.
“That combination is hard to beat,” Bui said.
Admission to a service academy involves a highly competitive application process that evaluates academic records, leadership experience, physical fitness assessments, and character. Bui received his nomination from Congressman Vince Fong of California’s 20th District. The application process also included letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, transcripts, and an interview with Fong’s academy advisory board.
Bui said the idea of attending a service academy first took shape in eighth grade after seeing his brother Thomas begin the process.
“When I was in eighth grade, I remember seeing my brother being a plebe in uniform,” Bui said. “It inspired me because the uniform represents lots of discipline and character.”
Bui said that ever since freshman year, he has focused on building the academic, athletic, and leadership resume needed for the rigorous application process.
At Burroughs, Bui has served as a captain of the swim team and has qualified for CIF competition in multiple events, including the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley. He is also a member of the ASB leadership class and has taken a mix of Advanced Placement and Cerro Coso coursework.
As he prepares to head to Annapolis, Bui already has some career paths in mind, focusing on naval aviation or becoming a Navy SEAL officer.
“I have spoken with a lot of aviators out of the academy who shared their experiences, which I definitely know is something I would enjoy,” said Bui. “At the same time, I would most definitely pursue becoming a SEAL officer because I have a lot of experience swimming, and I am drawn towards becoming the best leader I can be while also being surrounded by great leaders.”
Bui says the first people he told about the appointment were his family members. He credits his parents, Tri and Tammy, and his brothers — all of whom also received service academy appointments — for helping him reach this point.
“I told my dad because he’s always had high expectations for me and pushed me to become my best self,” Bui said. “I told my mom because she’s always believed in me, no matter what. She’s been there since day one, making sure I was okay mentally when the odds were stacked against me.”
Even with the excitement, Bui admits he is a bit nervous about the Naval Academy’s intense first-year training program.
“I’m probably most nervous about Plebe Summer and the intensity that comes with it,” Bui said. “I’ll be surrounded by people who were all the best at their schools, so I know it will be challenging. But that challenge is part of what excites me about attending the Naval Academy.”
For freshmen students who want to follow a similar path, Bui offers a simple, growth-mindset challenge: “If you were 15 failures away from achieving your dream, how fast would you want to fail?”
While Bui is excited for the opportunity ahead, he says one of the hardest parts about leaving home will be stepping away from a long-held tradition with his father.
“I’m definitely going to miss the late-night swim practice with my dad,” Bui shared. “My dad is the one man who I can say never gave up on me and believed in what I could become. He pushed me to be better and prosper.”
