GROTON, Mass. -- From a platoon leader with 40 Soldiers, to his command as a four-star general leading more than 65,000 employees, Army Materiel Command's top leader chronicled his path to success to junior and senior high school students at Groton School in Massachusetts Feb. 17.

AMC Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via spoke to two History classes at the private New England boarding school once attended by former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"Success is basically preparation and opportunity. You're doing your preparation here, which is critically important for your future," he said. "Throughout your life, opportunity will come along. When your preparation meets that opportunity, it will create success."

Via said the road to success isn't without adversity; in fact, adversity is a guarantee.

"My freshman year of college, my father passed away, and I had to grow up really fast. That was probably the first time adversity really showed up in my life," he said. "Adversity will show up in your life. It's not a matter of if, it's when. And when it does, the foundation that you have allows you to weather that storm."

Started by Episcopalian Rev. Endicott Peabody in 1884 with only 24 students and two colleagues, Groton School's history is similar to Via's own story of small beginnings.

Via told the students he grew up in a rural, country setting in Martinsville, Virginia, and was part of the first integrated class in the state. After a teacher inspired him to attend college, Via spoke to an Army recruiter on campus. The conversation turned into six weeks of ROTC summer camp, a scholarship and now, more than 35 years in the Army.

"I didn't know what I was getting into, but I loved every bit of it. I loved the physical challenge and the leadership part of it," he said. "I never envisioned that was something I could do one day. You really don't have any idea of what you can do and what you can become, but it is possible. If you continue to work hard, stay focused on the things that are important and that you enjoy, opportunities will come along. If you dream big dreams, it absolutely will happen for you."

During the discussion, students expressed interests ranging from playing the violin to dance, English and playwriting. Via encouraged them to follow their passion and dreams.

"My passion is leadership. I love service and leadership, and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Passion motivates you," he said. "Once you find that passion, it's no longer called work."

Via answered questions from the students on topics ranging from service and leadership to cyber warfare and Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Groton School's eighth Headmaster Temba Maqubela invited Via to speak when the two met last summer. He said Via's story was inspirational to the Groton family.

"General Via's visit affirmed the importance of acquiring knowledge and mastering complexity," Maqubela said. "He came to Groton and inspired all those with whom he interacted -- adults and children alike."

Groton School is nestled in a wooded countryside, a short drive west of Boston. The campus of 19th century structures forms a circle of school houses, dorms and a chapel, and is home to nearly 400 students from 17 countries and 33 states. More than one out of every four students matriculate into Ivy League schools as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.

In addition to Roosevelt, the school's list of alumni is more impressive than the facility itself, boasting names of congressmen, senators, Olympic gold medalists, bestselling authors, foreign ambassadors, a Medal of Honor recipient and a secretary of state.