I didn’t grow up in a military family, but I’ve always admired the values that service members live by — discipline, selflessness, and courage. My first real exposure to military life came through my high school’s JROTC program. What started as a way to challenge myself quickly became something much more meaningful. JROTC gave me structure, purpose, and a deep respect for leadership. It also opened my eyes to the Army National Guard — a path where I can serve both my community and my country while continuing my education and building a future for my family.
At home, I help care for my disabled, single mother. I assist with everything from mobility and errands to medical appointments and household responsibilities. These experiences have taught me resilience, responsibility, and patience — qualities that naturally aligned with what I was learning in JROTC. As I learned to lead a squad, conduct drill, and mentor younger cadets, I started to understand what it means to serve others not just in words, but in action.
Through my time in JROTC, I’ve learned about the long history of minorities in the military and the barriers they’ve overcome to lead and succeed. From the Buffalo Soldiers to today’s diverse ranks, I’ve been inspired by those who paved the way through determination and sacrifice. Their legacy motivates me to follow in their footsteps — not just to wear the uniform, but to live up to the responsibility it carries.
The Army National Guard appeals to me because it allows me to do exactly that. It’s a chance to protect and serve my home state during emergencies, natural disasters, and times of crisis — while also developing leadership, tactical, and career skills. The Guard’s ability to respond quickly, help real people, and maintain strong community ties is something I deeply respect. I want to be part of a force that’s always ready to support both neighbors and the nation.
My short-term goal is to enlist in the Army National Guard after graduation while continuing my education, possibly in business or public service. Long-term, I hope to grow into leadership roles within the Guard and eventually help others like me — students, caregivers, and young people from tough situations — see that service is a powerful way to rise. I want to give back, not only through missions and deployments but by being a mentor to the next generation of soldiers.
JROTC taught me how to lead, serve, and grow. The Army National Guard will help me take that foundation and build a future that honors my mom’s sacrifices, uplifts my community, and fulfills my commitment to serve with purpose and pride.
From a very young age, I always knew I wanted to be a part of something, something that would be bigger than I was. As I grew older and was more aware of the job opportunities I had in life, it became clear to me what that something was. The United States Army. After doing my research on the disciplines that are found in the Army I decided that I wanted to focus on Human Intelligence. How would I get there, was the question I asked myself everyday until I came up with my plan to reach my career goal.
Upon my research, I felt that the best way to obtain the job I want was to be awarded an ROTC Scholarship to a 4-year institution. Receiving this scholarship is very competitive and no easy task. I felt that joining my school’s JROTC would propel me as a candidate. After 3 years of hard work in the JROTC program I achieved the rank of Co-Captain in Raiders, CyberPatriot, and the Drill team. Not only was I the Co-Captain of these teams, but I was the Executive Officer of the entire battalion. Walking into JROTC I wanted a micro experience of military life, instead I found lifelong skills such as leadership, organization, and dedication. All good skills that boost my abilities of getting my scholarship.
As important as the leadership skills I’ve acquired are, education is the most important. My studies are something that I have always been quite dedicated to. The dedication to my learning has earned me numerous awards focused on my academics. I keep my course rigor quite high as well, this prepares me for the workload that will be expected of me not just in college, but in the working world as well. My education is important in general, but it's more important to me. With scholarships I will be able to earn a higher education along with my commission.
Why human intelligence? Human intelligence aligns with many of my skills such as analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership capabilities. This field will give me the opportunity to help stop bad people before it is too late, thus causing harm to my country, my people. Human intelligence will enable me to use the full capacity of my thinking in a productive way that will help people one day.
At the end of the day, my goal is to be someone bigger than myself, scholarships allowing me to go to college and commission will get me there. Ultimately my goal is to help people find solace and safety when they sleep at night. To help prevent immoral acts from harming not only my country but my country’s allies as well. I hope that with my commissioning that I will make the world a better place and it starts with scholarships.
I have spent hours listening and looking through old photos as my adoptive dad told stories about his time in the Navy as a support equipment technician. He has always told me about how much of a troublemaker he was when he was younger and how the Navy gave him structure.
Approximately one-third of active duty members in the military identify as a minority. Historically, minorities who were in the military got paid less, and African Americans specifically were segregated from their white counterparts because the military thought they were not as capable. Most African American men in the military worked more difficult labor jobs or service jobs like mechanical work, building roads, unloading and loading supplies, and cooking. They were also treated like animals and lived in slave-like conditions. I read an article about an African American man named James G. Thompson, who wrote a letter to the Pittsburgh Courier asking, "Should I sacrifice my life to live only partially as an American?" That question sparked the Double V Campaign and a realization even now, African Americans face unequal treatment and continue to experience discrimination. While the discrimination might not be as publically accepted, it still happens in our schools. The campaign made people aware of the sacrifices African American soldiers made and pointed out the contradiction of a country that claimed to offer freedom but denied it to many of its citizens. This struggle for justice and equality became a powerful message for change in the military and society.
I have spent a lot of time studying racism and segregation, looking at important events and figures and how these issues have affected different groups of people. One quote that has always resonated with me is, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from history to avoid making the same mistakes. It illustrates how ignorance can result in painful consequences and stresses the necessity of awareness and understanding in our ongoing fight against discrimination and inequality.
I have always had great admiration for my father's naval career. At thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the NJROTC program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. Joining NJROTC was one of the best decisions of my high school career. I was not only learning valuable life lessons, but I was also building a family and lifelong friendships along the way.
I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling career as long as the tragedy of crime infects our society. After College, I hope to enlist as an officer in the Navy as part of the NCIS forensic support team. I look forward to making a real difference in people's lives and serving our country.
