I met a Naval Academy graduate who graduated from medical school shortly after graduating from Annapolis. He was a naval medical officer at Special Warfare Command. Another “loser” who joined the military because he could not do anything else, according to Salcido.
I was ostracized my last two months of high school in 1972. My crime was that I was awarded an Army ROTC 4 year scholarship, to any university in the country that had ROTC.
I even had teachers say to my face how "disappointed" they were in me. Only one teacher was thrilled for me, my calculus teacher who was a former Jesuit priest at Marquette. He enthusiastically supported my decision to matriculate at Gonzaga, one of the best decisions I ever made.
This "loser" won the most valuable scholarship in his over 500 graduating class. Mine paid all expenses, plus a stipend each month. I graduated with zero debt, and my parents didn't have to pay a dime of my college expense.
I've never been back to any reunion...I had no reason to, nor any desire to reconnect with anyone, with the possible exception of a former girlfriend. After 45+ years, there's really no point in doing so.