Brains, Beauty, Brawn, and a Bold Mission: Meet Your New Role Model
But developing that level of drive and purpose doesn't happen overnight.
Ready to adopt some of Cooper's mindset to be all you can be? Here are four principles that keep her on track.
For Cooper, the first step to pursuing your dreams is to find your "why." Knowing what you value most is what will help keep you going when you feel overwhelmed or doubt creeps in. When you know your "why," and you keep fueling that purpose with the people, environments, and passions that align with your goals, your dreams start to take shape.
Cooper has built an impressive resume—both in and out of her Army uniform. Through every one of her endeavors, service has been her driving force—always considering how to better herself and make a difference for those around her.
She credits her family with first instilling this value of service—a value that would be esteemed and fostered well in the Army, where service is a cornerstone. Between her father's service in the U.S. Army for more than two decades, her mother's compassionate commitment to educating young students, and her sister who has special needs, Cooper was surrounded by selfless acts from a young age. "In my household, being selfless is a core principle," recounts Cooper.
As she was growing up, Cooper observed military life through her father's successful career in the Army, but she didn't consider it as an option for herself until her mother signed her up for summer camp at West Point when she was 16. That's when she realized the Army offered much more than she realized. "From the moment I stepped on campus, I saw that West Point is focused on service, and that resonated with me," she recalls. "Thanks to the mentors there, I knew I'd be challenged."
Cooper was always inspired by her parents' dedication to their work and creating the best opportunities for themselves and their family's future. She saw their resilience and decided to step out of her comfort zone and position herself in a completely new, demanding environment. "In the end, that's going to develop your character, and you're going to learn far more about yourself," she says.
Following her summer camp experience, Cooper only applied to West Point for her post-high school education—confident it was the best place for her and her future. "I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and who I am as an individual. I knew I'd walk out a better young woman."
Once at West Point, Cooper didn't shy away from obstacles. Math hadn't come easily in school, but she loved telling stories through numbers, so she chose mathematical science as her major. She had a clear vision for where her education could take her, guided by her dad's constant reminder: "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable."
Cooper's family surrounded her with examples of perseverance. "In my household ... there is a sense of resilience." At 14, Cooper developed an interest in pageants from her mother who competed herself as a young woman but lacked the resources to go far. "In the stories my parents tell about growing up—for instance, my mom experienced food insecurity, which is why I'm dedicated to that issue [today]—they've been so resilient in the pursuit of their dreams. It's easy to be inspired by that."
In the Army, Cooper has received similar encouragement from other soldiers, such as her mentor Col. Julia O. Coxen. Their guidance is what inspired her to be a leader herself—not just in her career, but in other aspects of her life. As Cooper approached her graduation from West Point, it was Coxen who told Cooper to consider applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University. Typically, soldiers graduate from West Point and go straight into operational Army, but Coxen saw Cooper's potential for this unique opportunity. She told Cooper to not be the first person to say no to herself—and it's a good thing she didn't. Cooper was awarded the opportunity to become a scholar and continued her mathematics studies in data science and furthering research on nutrition and food insecurity.
"There is such power in contributing to an organization that's bigger than yourself, and in finding cohesion and commonalities," she says. "That's true with the Army and also with any type of workplace or group. At the end of the day, having mentors and role models helps you evolve and develop the growth mindset that's needed to take you to the best version of yourself."
Today Cooper is using her recognition as a reigning national pageant queen to represent the Army at high schools across the country to inspire young students and show them all you can achieve while serving your country.
Cooper has a personal motto, "If you see me, you can be me." She's determined to lead as an example to others—as many before her have done—and to share her roadmap to chasing your dreams. "When you identify causes that you care about, and you're willing to work toward uplifting those around you, that makes an incredible impact," she says.
Her platform is also helping her put her studies and research into action, bringing awareness to food insecurity around the nation.
Even as she works towards finishing grad school and her reign comes to a close, she continues to hit the gas pedal. One peek at her social media channels and you'll see Cooper is once again leaning into her passions and setting up her next challenge: Running all the major marathons around the world. By combining her love for doing hard things with her passion for nutrition and wellness, Cooper's growing interest in running proves she will continue to set the bar high for herself. "You can live a far more fulfilling life when you show up and bring your full self into every situation," she says.
Still in her early 20's, Cooper is just getting started. She believes that the only limits you face are the ones you put on yourself, so it's unlikely she will let up anytime soon. "Personally, I know what it feels like when I'm holding back," she says. "That's when I come back to the basics of resilience, service, and passion. That's how you can chase your dreams."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
U.S. military's attempt to retain strategic land for training runs into Native Hawaiian opposition
HONOLULU — A high-altitude plateau on the Big Island is the only place in Hawaii where thousands of ground forces can practice firing live munitions. It's also a place many Native Hawaiians consider the spiritual heart of the island. The U.S. military wants to keep training at this spot, called Pohakuloa, so it's ready to quickly send troops to Asia and the Pacific. Its importance to the U.S. is only growing as China becomes more assertive, particularly regarding Taiwan. But the Army's lease for state lands beneath a key part of the training range expires in 2029. Native Hawaiians upset with the U.S. military's history of damaging Hawaiian lands with target practice and fuel leaks want the Army out. 'They have bombed and contaminated not just our land but our waters,' said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a community organizer with the Hawaiian sovereignty group Ka Lahui Hawaii. 'When does this end?' The military controls about 5% of Hawaii's land, including bases for all branches. It has programs and staff to protect endangered and threatened species, prevent fires, and plant native plants. But past incidents have made many Native Hawaiians skeptical. The Navy turned the island of Kahoolawe, off Maui, into a bombing range after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Navy returned it in 1994 after years of protests. But subsequent cleanup efforts have been incomplete. Live grenades and bombs remain scattered across a quarter of the island. Memories are still fresh from when the Navy spilled jet fuel into Pearl Harbor's drinking water from a network of underground fuel storage tanks and pipes in 2021. The leak prompted 6,000 people to seek medical care for rashes, nausea and other ailments and contaminated a Honolulu aquifer. The disaster occurred after admirals spent years dismissing community calls to move the tanks. On Tuesday, Honolulu's water utility sued the Navy seeking to recoup an estimated $1.2 billion that it has had to spend because of the spill. Also on Oahu, environmental advocates say Army live-fire training in Makua Valley sparked wildfires and destroyed native forestland and sacred cultural sites. A legal settlement stopped such training in 2004. Pohakuloa consists of rocky plains, hills and brush about 6,200 feet above sea level between the Big Island's tallest volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It hosts endangered species including the Hawaiian catchfly shrub. Early Hawaiians ventured across the plateau to reach a Mauna Kea quarry that produced high-quality basalt for stone tools and to travel between coastal towns. In 2022, Army staff discovered ancient wooden 'kii,' or figures, in a lava tube, an underground passageway created by molten rock. Consultants said the figures are from human burials, and state preservationists say they're among Hawaii's most significant archaeological finds. Pohakuloa Training Area spans more than 200 square miles. The section in question is only 17% of that total, but it's critically located in between two larger federal parcels. Troops fire munitions from the state-owned parcel onto federal lands. Other live-fire training areas in Hawaii are too small to accommodate battalions and brigades. Commanders say it would take too long to send troops, trucks and helicopters to the U.S. mainland for drills. 'What we anticipate in a future fight is that we will not have the time to recover that equipment and to position ourselves back into the region,' said Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, U.S. Army Pacific chief of staff. Pohakuloa training, he said, allows troops to 'move from Hawaii into the Indo-Pacific, into key terrain, to be prepared to meet our adversaries, or more importantly, to deter them.' The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force exercise there, as do allied and partner militaries. The Hawaii National Guard accounts for one-quarter of Pohakuloa's training. County fire and police departments use it too. The Army prepared an environmental impact statement, including public feedback, that analyzed how the military's continued use of the land would affect plants, animals and cultural heritage. On May 9, the state land board rejected it after hearing hours of often emotional testimony in opposition. Among other issues, the board cited inadequate inventory of unexploded ordnance and insufficient inventory of ancient burials and associated artifacts. The Army is considering whether to appeal. It could also negotiate a land exchange with the state instead. Such talks can't begin until the Army finalizes its environmental study with a decision about its plans. The defense secretary's office then must sign off on acquiring land. Alice Roberts, U.S. Army Pacific's program manager for training land retention, said the service has had some informal conversations, including trying to understand the state's swap criteria. Buying the land would be a 'big hurdle,' for the Army, she said, because two-thirds of the state House and Senate would need to approve such a transaction. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, said the Army must double-down on being good stewards and make up for the military's past mistakes. Tokuda wants the military to help increase Hawaii's housing supply, given that service members occupy 14% of Oahu's housing stock and that high housing costs are driving residents out. She said it could bolster Hawaii's water and sewer infrastructure. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green suggested in an interview with Hawaii News Now that the military could take the land through eminent domain, but Tokuda said she hasn't heard anyone in the military or President Trump's administration mention that. Kaialiʻi Kahele, the chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which advocates for Native Hawaiians, wants to see what federal lands the Army would offer. He wants to know whether it would be willing to reduce the impact of its training, and what sort of clean up and community benefits it would provide. 'We have to get to a point where you do training and then you clean up your mess,' said Kahele, a former congressman who served more than 20 years in the Hawaii Air National Guard and is now in the Air Force Reserve. 'That should be the model of training that respects aina, respects this place and its culture and its people,' he said, using the Hawaiian word for land. McAvoy writes for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Lorne Gunter: Who knew Edmonton promotes 'forest bather' program to 'reduce stress and enhance wellness'
Turns out I've been a 'forest bather' all these years and didn't even know it. No, no. That doesn't mean I run starkers into the woods until I find a pond, then leap in for a cleansing dip. According to the City of Edmonton's new 'forest bathing' program (yes, the city actually set up such a program with guides and schedules and everything), bathing in the forest can be as simple as going for an 'exploratory walk' or drinking in all the sensations that surround us in the river valley. Don't you just get all tingly imagining standing in a grove of poplars and chanting a mantra right now? 'Om Mani Pädme Hum!' For a dozen years, since we rescued our beautiful dog Kali with the help of the Edmonton Humane Society, I've been going on long walks down by the North Saskatchewan River three or four times a week. Now that we have a second dog, Cooper, it's a great way to help him burn off energy. (He's a five-year-old border collie–blue heeler cross.) Our frequent walks are a great way to meet other dogs and dog owners. But the dogs and I also know a couple of long trails on which we are unlikely to encounter anyone else. A peaceful hour on one of these paths is very relaxing. I guess that means that all this time I've been a closet forest bather. Who knew? Unbeknownst to me, I've even occasionally used one of the city's approved forest-bathing glades. Twice a week until Sept. 18, the city is offering free 'forest therapy' sessions 'to reduce stress and enhance wellness.' They've hired guides to lead 'silent meditation, mindful sensory exploration and group and individual reflections.' All of this to 'increase connection to nature in our urban forest.' Seriously!? This is an activity that needs to be organized and guided? Isn't that level of formality self-defeating to the simple enjoyment of nature? In his famous 19th-Century book Walden; or, Life in the Woods, a 'reflection on simple living in natural surroundings,' I don't recall Henry David Thoreau talking about meeting up with his government guide at the marshalling point near the parking lot for the spiritual walk to Walden Pond. It's galling to think the city is hitting up taxpayers for this exercise. If you want to get together with a bunch of other meditators to explore the river valley, have at 'er. Just don't make me pay for it from a budget city council is always complaining is overstressed. But beyond the notion that 'forest bathing' is a tax-funded activity in Edmonton — and an overthought one at that — what makes this doubly upsetting is that this program was announced the same week council manipulated its agenda so it could cancel a hearing on residents' legitimate concerns about mega-infill projects in the middle of existing residential neighbourhoods. Talk about getting its priorities screwed up. Council also found time to extend the community revitalization levy for Downtown. That will increase taxes through 2044 to fund projects that have very little chance of revitalizing our city core. But council didn't have time to hear from residents concerned that the neighbourhoods they have made their lives in are being ripped apart by enormous developments on tiny lots with all the parking spilling onto the streets in front. Homes that people have pumped their live savings into are being devalued and their quality of life diminished so the city can push ahead with its unbalanced obsession for 'more homes everywhere.' The majority on council couldn't take the time this week to hear those concerns, but it did manage to find time to approve a seven-acre mountain bike park in the river valley (presumably far from the forest bathing sites). Any councillor with priorities as messed up as this deserves to be turfed out. lgunter@ Zoning bylaw debate poses some thorny issues for Edmonton council Lorne Gunter: Trickery at city hall so Edmontonians went home without being heard You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
US military's attempt to retain strategic land for training runs into Native Hawaiian opposition
HONOLULU (AP) — A high-altitude plateau on the Big Island is the only place in Hawaii where thousands of ground forces can practice firing live munitions. It's also a place many Native Hawaiians consider the spiritual heart of the island. The U.S. military wants to keep training at this spot, called Pohakuloa, so it's ready to quickly send troops to Asia and the Pacific. Its importance to the U.S. is only growing as China becomes more assertive, particularly regarding Taiwan. But the Army's lease for state lands beneath a key part of the training range expires in 2029. Native Hawaiians upset with the U.S. military's history of damaging Hawaiian lands with target practice and fuel leaks want the Army out. 'They have bombed and contaminated not just our land but our waters,' said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a community organizer with the Hawaiian sovereignty group Ka Lahui Hawaii. 'When does this end?' A problematic history The military controls about 5% of Hawaii's land, including bases for all branches. It has programs and staff to protect endangered and threatened species, prevent fires, and plant native plants. But past incidents have made many Native Hawaiians skeptical. The Navy turned the island of Kahoolawe, off Maui, into a bombing range after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Navy returned it in 1994 after years of protests. But subsequent cleanup efforts have been incomplete. Live grenades and bombs remain scattered across a quarter of the island. Memories are still fresh from when the Navy spilled jet fuel into Pearl Harbor's drinking water from a network of underground fuel storage tanks and pipes in 2021. The leak prompted 6,000 people to seek medical care for rashes, nausea and other ailments and contaminated a Honolulu aquifer. The disaster occurred after admirals spent years dismissing community calls to move the tanks. On Tuesday, Honolulu's water utility sued the Navy seeking to recoup an estimated $1.2 billion that it has had to spend because of the spill. Also on Oahu, environmental advocates say Army live-fire training in Makua Valley sparked wildfires and destroyed native forestland and sacred cultural sites. A legal settlement stopped such training in 2004. The cultural significance of Pohakuloa Pohakuloa consists of rocky plains, hills and brush about 6,200 feet (1,900 meters) above sea level between the Big Island's tallest volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It hosts endangered species including the Hawaiian catchfly shrub. Early Hawaiians ventured across the plateau to reach a Mauna Kea quarry that produced high-quality basalt for stone tools and to travel between coastal towns. In 2022, Army staff discovered ancient wooden 'kii,' or figures, in a lava tube, an underground passageway created by molten rock. Consultants said the figures are from human burials, and state preservationists say they're among Hawaii's most significant archaeological finds. Pohakuloa Training Area spans more than 200 square miles (518 square kilometers). The section in question is only 17% of that total, but it's critically located in between two larger federal parcels. Troops fire munitions from the state-owned parcel onto federal lands. The land's importance for training and deterrence Other live-fire training areas in Hawaii are too small to accommodate battalions and brigades. Commanders say it would take too long to send troops, trucks and helicopters to the U.S. mainland for drills. 'What we anticipate in a future fight is that we will not have the time to recover that equipment and to position ourselves back into the region,' said Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, U.S. Army Pacific chief of staff. Pohakuloa training, he said, allows troops to "move from Hawaii into the Indo-Pacific, into key terrain, to be prepared to meet our adversaries, or more importantly, to deter them.' The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force exercise there, as do allied and partner militaries. The Hawaii National Guard accounts for one-quarter of Pohakuloa's training. County fire and police departments use it too. Negotiations to exchange land The Army prepared an environmental impact statement, including public feedback, that analyzed how the military's continued use of the land would affect plants, animals and cultural heritage. On May 9, the state land board rejected it after hearing hours of often emotional testimony in opposition. Among other issues, the board cited inadequate inventory of unexploded ordnance and insufficient inventory of ancient burials and associated artifacts. The Army is considering whether to appeal. It could also negotiate a land exchange with the state instead. Such talks can't begin until the Army finalizes its environmental study with a decision about its plans. The defense secretary's office then must sign off on acquiring land. Alice Roberts, U.S. Army Pacific's program manager for training land retention, said the service has had some informal conversations, including trying to understand the state's swap criteria. Buying the land would be a 'a big hurdle,' for the Army, she said, because two-thirds of the state House and Senate would need to approve such a transaction. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, said the Army must double down on being good stewards and make up for the military's past mistakes. Tokuda wants the military to help increase Hawaii's housing supply, given that service members occupy 14% of Oahu's housing stock and that high housing costs are driving residents out. She said it could bolster Hawaii's water and sewer infrastructure. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green suggested in an interview with Hawaii News Now that the military could take the land through eminent domain, but Tokuda said she hasn't heard anyone in the military or President Donald Trump's administration mention that. A call for a cleanup Kaialiʻi Kahele, the chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which advocates for Native Hawaiians, wants to see what federal lands the Army would offer. He wants to know whether it would be willing to reduce the impact of its training, and what sort of clean up and community benefits it would provide. 'We have to get to a point where you do training and then you clean up your mess,' said Kahele, a former congressman who served more than 20 years in the Hawaii Air National Guard and is now in the Air Force Reserve.
