There are a lot of responsibilities that come with being a student-athlete at West Point, but one specific cadet has even more on her radar than any other.

Lauren Drysdale is one unique member of the women’s soccer team with how she juggles all of her roles.

Naps are few and far between for any cadet on campus, but Drysdale’s responsibilities are unmatched: In addition to being team captain, the Irvine, Calif., native leads the Corps of Cadets.

“Sometimes it’s just a little surreal,” said Drysdale.

In August, she was appointed first captain at West Point, and essentially put in a position to lead the entire student body, made up of more than 4,000 cadets.

“I think it’s just a testament to how I was raised and the mentors and the leaders that have molded me into who I am,” said Drysdale.

To her teammates and coaches, it wasn’t a surprise.

“She’s truly a servant leader. She’s selfless, she’s humble, but she’s also a competitor,” said West Point women’s soccer head coach Tracy Chao.

As first captain at West Point, Drysdale is at the highest position in the cadet chain of command, and responsible for the overall performance of Corps of Cadets, including her extended family on the soccer team.

“In the beginning, it was a little weird and with how they interacted and with their jokes and with ‘oh no, I’ll be your bodyguard,’ and things like that,” Drysdale said, “but at the end of the day, regardless, we’re just friends and they have my back. They follow the standards and they do the right things so I don’t have to police my teammates up too much, so that’s nice.”

Drysdale’s days start early, with little downtime and little escape from the pressures that come with being first captain.

“You’re in front of a lot of eyes,” she said. “A lot of people know who you are, a lot of people are watching every step you make, and so there’s anxiety in that at times, but also a great pride and privilege.”