An Ode to a Scholarship

Prior to entering high school, like any newcomer, I had no idea what to expect. From rumors about “upperclassman traditions” to righteous paths to acceptance, I knew high school was going to be one of the most important four years of my life. One of the most important decisions that I made in high school will definitely be joining my schools’ Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The experiences, values, and memories I have received from this ‘one program’ have marked a path for my life post high school. I knew from then on that the military was the life for me. Experiencing this program as a cadet I’ve learned to be a leader- a role model. This program along with Clark High Schools’ Academy of Mathematics, Science and Applied Technology has pushed me in a brighter direction from which I had started walking along.
Post graduating, I plan on leaving with high honors in pursuit of attending college with hopes of majoring in either an engineering field (preferably an environmental and/or an industrial engineer) or humanities directed major. I feel that my seven years of magnet programs in school that have strongly been based on the subjects of math and science will definitely bring me a step higher than some when it comes to an engineering career. However, like any student I have had my share of academic struggles, but as a determined and motivated individual failure simply won’t be easily accepted. If I positively see myself traveling down a route dealing with engineering, a field that will soon be in high demand in our growing technological and advancing society, my desires to further our nation’s advancements will be through a career as a respected engineer.
Humanities, however, is not a subject I had spent years studying, but something I have felt so passionate about for years. From volunteering in my own community to becoming a supporter of large organizations such as PETA and the American Red Cross, world aid has been something I hope in seeing myself being a part of in the near future. The idea of proudly representing my branch of military and my countries colors in pursuit of helping other countries motivates me to go beyond ordinary.
As a female, joining the military after college doesn’t typically perceive to be “the number one choice”. But growing up in a Navy-brought-up family, becoming an innovative leader in my high schools’ Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and simply witnessing the dedication and teamwork military personnel put into situations of relief effort such as those recently established in Haiti are reasons why I feel like I belong within this field. From a driven sailor in the U.S. Navy to a proud U.S. Army soldier, succeeding in a career based on the wellbeing of others is what gives my life a purpose. Because in my eyes, “the purpose of life is a life with purpose.”