When I was younger I always thought I wanted to be a veterinarian. I grew up on a farm and was constantly taking care of my many animals and other injured animals that found their way to my house. I got to grow up helping different reptiles, birds, small animals like cats, dogs, and rodents, and big animals such as sheep, goats, and horses. My life revolved around animals so I thought becoming a veterinarian would be the best fit for me. But my career goals flipped my senior year of high school. All four years of high school I was in a class called naval science or NJROTC. I took this course because my older sister was in it and I wanted to be just like her when I went into high school. I ended up falling in love with the class and staying in it for all four years. Though I was in the class, I wasn’t interested in the military, I still wanted to become a veterinarian, at the time, the course was a fun elective. But my junior year I found out about a scholarship that would offer me education benefits if I signed a contract with the United States Navy. I thought this was an amazing deal, all I had to do was apply but I didn’t think I was really going to get the scholarship, after all I still wanted to be a veterinarian. After waiting to hear anything back for applying, I finally got the news that I was accepted for the scholarship my senior year. This changed my life. I started taking harder math classes and they made me develop a strong likely for math which made me lean towards the major I will be studying, Mechanical Engineering. My NJROTC class also started developing my liking for the military and the Navy which drove me to apply for the scholarship in the first place. The scholarship will pay for my tuition and let me attend any school with a NROTC program. During my schooling, I will take courses that will develop my leadership skills and knowledge about the military. During my four years of college, I will be working to study mechanical engineering and training to become an officer in the Navy. Once I graduate, I get to commission into the Navy as a submarine officer. I will be able to use my years of leadership training to train those enlisted in the military and help them achieve the goals they want to achieve. I will retire in the Navy and throughout my 20 or more years, I would have helped all of the other men and women who need guidance.

My name is Brianna Putman. I come from a low income family of six that has used farming to built ourselves up to the financial level we are at today. Though it is not much, we are able to afford basic necessities. It has been a hard few years constantly struggling in the farming industry because of inflation but we have been able to make the best of what we have and take every opportunity available. During my 4 years of high school, I was given opportunities for being in JROTC that no other student has gotten at my high school. These opportunities have allowed me to attend leadership conferences for winning 2nd place in California in an essay contest. I have also been given the opportunity to help my community and organizations with it. By helping with beautification of my city to support my local businesses and charities, I have been able to make a difference in my city. I have also had the opportunity to participate in FFA, Future Farmers of America. This organization has not only given me opportunities to help my community but also taught me the importance all agricultural careers and the rolls I can take to support others. During my 4 years in FFA, I was able to raise and sell lambs at my county fair. This taught me the importance of entrepreneurship and the ability to learn how to market on my own at a young age. With all of this going on, I also played sports in school. I played Volleyball, Basketball, and ran Track and Field where I also practiced and competed in Pole Vaulting. I was able to achieve being on Varsity leaves for all 3 sports. Because we are a low income family, we do not have extra money to use for mine and my twin sister’s education. With this scholarship I will use it to afford housing for my school. I was thankfully rewarded an amazing scholarship from the Navy after 4 years of hard work in high school but it only covers the cost to attend my University. Unfortunately it does not include the cost of housing. This scholarship will give me the tools to afford housing for at least my first year of school. Without money for my housing, I will not be able to attend my University and I will lose my scholarship. Thank you for this opportunity and providing other students with it too.