I remember once in JROTC, I was called out by a senior for showing up late. I remember going home and crying that night. I was so embarrassed and I felt like I didn’t belong. That moment will always stick with me. I started waking up earlier and preparing my uniform the night before. Even though it was an embarrassing moment, it became one of my greatest motivators. When I first joined JROTC, there was only 2 girls including me. I remember my first day. I felt nervous, yet proud. My family has never been a military family, and my interests were severely unaligned with the armed forces when I started. I want to study theatre. Theatre allows me to perform stories that inspire people in unimaginable ways. I saw that my school had a JROTC program. To be honest, it did not seem like something I would be interested in at all. However, despite that I’ve always been a theatre kid, I decided to join JROTC because I wanted to challenge myself with a completely new experience. During my time in JROTC, I ranked up to the role of Cadet Second Lieutenant. I got to lead drills, organize service projects, and mentor younger cadets. The ideas I learned there stayed with me in the theatre world too. Being in a scene with other actors requires the same traits I learned in JROTC. As an actor, you cannot be stuck in your own mind. You must be able to collaborate with your other actors. JROTC taught me how to connect with my peers better than ever before. Every individual has a role to play, and success comes from harmony. One of the biggest lessons JROTC has taught me is confidence. Not that I didn’t have it before, but it greatly amplified it for me. I had to be able to command a room of my peers. The idea of earning their respect seemed very intimidating. That experience helped me find my voice, literally and figuratively. This carries over to the theatre world too. I am able to carry myself with greater confidence than ever before. I was one of only 2 girls in JROTC, so I had to teach myself resilience. There were so many moments when I felt underestimated, especially by all the seniors. However, those emotions I experienced motivated myself to prove that leadership doesn’t have to be a certain way. In both scenarios, representation matters. It’s an honor to create spaces where others feel empowered to lead in their own unique ways, no matter where that may be. If I were world’s next superhero, my theme song would be “Thank You for the Music” by ABBA. I have such a deep connection to the joy and inspiration in that song. It reminds me to stay grateful for the gift of expression and for the voices of everyone that makes them who they are. The song reflects my belief that leadership and art come from the same place. JROTC gave me a foundation that I never knew I needed. While my current path is to be on a stage instead of the military, the lessons I learned in that program will remain a permanent part of my character. JROTC allowed me to become not only the kind of leader I am, but the kind of performer I want to become. A performer with discipline, courage, and leadership that is unique to myself. I hope I left a permanent mark on all of the future JROTC members, especially all of the girls who feel like a black sheep.