Army Leads the Way!

I am from Lancaster, California, and currently, I am a cadet studying physical education at Norwich University. I come from a large family, with seven older brothers and two younger sisters. Growing up, I faced significant challenges: I lost my grandmother when I was just seven, and my mother passed away a year later. During this difficult time, some family members drifted apart, and I tragically lost one of my brothers. Recently, I experienced another profound loss of someone special to me.

The decision to join the Army National Guard was profoundly influenced by my high school teacher and my recruiter, SSG Brown. One morning, SSG Brown visited my class to talk about the Army National Guard. My economics teacher, whom I call Coach Quam, pointed me out to him, and my immediate reaction was a firm "NO WAY." However, as I listened to SSG Brown’s presentation, I began to contemplate the possibilities. The fact that only 1% of Americans are willing to serve their country truly inspired me.

At that time, I had just learned that my father had cancer, leaving me uncertain about his future. This realization motivated me to find strength and independence. I decided to join the Army National Guard and pursue to branch in logistics. I attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 2022, and after completing it, I enrolled at Westcliff University in Irvine, California. After a year, I went to AIT [Advanced Individual Training] at Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia, where I studied logistics.

Transitioning from military life back to civilian life felt unsettling, prompting me to transfer to Norwich University — the first private military college, founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge. My high school basketball coach, Gerard Nelson, who spent two years at Norwich in the Corps while playing basketball, highly recommended it. As I researched, I discovered their officer program for military personnel, which reignited my passion. I reached out to SSG Brown to discuss the process of joining Army ROTC, where I could pursue my education, play sports, and commission as an officer upon graduation.

During AIT, I met with CPT Huynh and CASA Guerra about the Minute Man Scholarship, and I was thrilled to receive it. I immediately texted my dad the good news on July 13, 2023, and I believe he saw it before he passed away the next day. Despite this heartbreaking loss, I remained committed to my plan of attending Norwich and participating in their Army ROTC program. Opportunities like this are rare and should never be taken for granted. God is definitely working in my life, and I give Him all the glory! The Army has been there for me in my darkest times, and it is now my duty to fulfill my goal of commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard in 2027.