Reflections on Non Sibi

In the decade since Army 1st Lt. Layne Erickson ’18 arrived at Exeter from Wisconsin, her relationship with non sibi has evolved. Speaking to the student body at assembly as part of the Academy’s Exeter Salutes program in November, Erickson described her altruistic growth: “When I came to Exeter … I felt this intense pressure to be this perfect little Exonian. Non sibi was rather competitive and for oneself.”

Now, she said: “My non sibi is not serving and defending the United States of America. My non sibi is more direct. It’s rooted in personal strengths: organization, empathy, preparedness — skills that I first learned here at Exeter.”
Erickson, an Army helicopter pilot, shared an especially formative experience: studying and writ-ing about the U.S. service academy classes of 1980 — which included the academies’ first female grad-uates — for her History 333 paper. “It was clear to me that these women did not succeed in a vacuum,” she said. “They lifted each other up. Their grand act of non sibi, in spite of the odds and in spite of the emotional turmoil that they went through, laid the groundwork for those who would come after.”

Erickson carried on a familial legacy of service when she matriculated at the United States Military Academy and became Exeter’s first alumna to gradu-ate from West Point. While there, Erickson’s lessons in non sibi continued. She recounted the growing pains she endured in her early days as a cadet. “It poured on my first night sleeping outdoors, soaked me and all of my gear,” she said. “I didn’t have any dry socks left.” Instead of accepting dry socks from other members of her platoon, Erickson said she stubbornly trudged on with aching feet.

“Not only did I reject their direct acts of non sibi towards me, but I slowed down the entire platoon and in doing so, brought down morale among this collective, hindering our ability to accomplish our mission of the day.”
Ready to leave West Point, Erickson was encour-aged by her platoon sergeant to stick it out. “Without Sergeant Adams’ support and empathy, my life would have been completely different,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to move forward and pass on my own little acts of non sibi to other cadets.”

Erickson encouraged Exonians to find ways — large or small — to practice non sibi. “I doubt my day job will be inspiring any 333 essays, but … your actions don’t need to be impressive to have impact,” she said. “Maybe your non sibi is studying with friends after class. Maybe you’re a proctor or a club head or a team captain and your non sibi is looking out for someone who needs a little extra support today. … Non sibi is far greater than the sum of its parts.”
The day’s events continued with the opportunity for students to eat lunch with Erickson and panel discussions featuring Erickson, Alex Najemy ’97, Holden Hammontree ’15, Instructor in English Nova Seals, Nat Butler ’64 and Bob DeVore ’58.