As most applicants will say, we have an unpayable debt to our nation and those who sacrificed their lives to protect it. It wasn't until I joined AFJROTC, that I realized the true meaning behind servant leadership from a military perspective. As a young child, I had always wanted to join the US Air Force and be a pilot, but the reasons for doing so were far from a mindset of servitude. Until I joined the JROTC program in high school, I was oblivious to the gravity of serving a nation, more importantly, serving the United States. As I progressed through AFJROTC, I learned about servant leadership, and the importance of teamwork, no matter the environment and no matter the people. Sacrifice is a word that captures servant leadership with the most detail. A subtle and solemn word, but one that has a tremendous impact when used. A sacrifice of time away from family, to go to a foreign land and preserve democracy that the native people otherwise couldn't fight for. But even something less extreme, like a leader who sacrifices time with his/her family, to stay behind and clean a room with their team. Both cases are an example of selfless service, sacrifice, and servant leadership. I have a passion for helping others, no matter who they are, or what their political beliefs are. It is democracy itself, the flag which flies freely, that I may even attempt to do as such. It is through the sacrifices made, both foreign and domestic that I can stand as a free man, and this is something I desperately want to protect as well. Through JROTC, I learned what it means to be of selfless service to others, and I found a talent for leadership as I earned numerous awards and recognitions. But more importantly, I found that I can use this skill set to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Proper servant leadership can change lives, as it also saves lives. Leadership is not a skill that is easily acquired, and I am extremely grateful for my instructors who were able to instill the catalyst for me to grow. Rather than let it go to waste, I wish to use what I've learned to protect the country that I love, thus I have committed myself to serve this nation by enrolling in AFROTC at Penn State University, and commissioning as an officer in the armed forces.