“I enrolled in JROTC to develop my leadership abilities, enabling me to confidently address challenges and take charge when others hesitate to do so. Additionally, my aspiration to pursue a career in the military, specifically the Marine Corps, motivated me to participate in this program. I believe that JROTC will provide valuable preparation in areas such as leadership and physical fitness that are essential for my future endeavors. At the beginning of the academic year, it was evident that many individuals, including myself, were not entirely at ease with talking to new classmates in other classes. However, within the JROTC class, it amazingly took only one week for all classmates to become oriented with each other’s names and to speak comfortably, which I have always been appreciative of. I also have a strong appreciation for our Physical Training (PT) workouts, which occur two out of five days each week. These workouts often involve activities such as dodgeball or kickball, or they may consist of more difficult exercises like the Devil’s Mile or various challenging stations that test our endurance within the early rotations. Additionally, I particularly cherish inspection day, which occurs every Friday, unless something comes up. On this day, we wear the uniform to school for evaluation, which contributes to our overall letter grade in the course. I take pride in wearing the uniform despite receiving both positive and negative comments, as it serves as a reminder that the uniform-along with other things, is not a right, but a privilege that can be taken away just as easily as it was given. Upon completing my high school career, I aspire to attend the United States Naval Academy and pursue a major in aerospace engineering, eventually transitioning into the Marine Corps. This ambition has been a longstanding aspiration of mine since the age of ten. My desire to join the Marine Corps was initially sparked by my Tio, who served as a copilot, also known as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO), and a Weapons Systems Operator (WSO) aboard the Grumman EA-6B Prowler during his twenty-seven years of service. His dedication to his role instilled in me a profound respect for military service and a strong interest in the Marine Corps. Over time, my focus has also shifted toward the possibility of attending the Naval Academy, which has become a pivotal part of my future aspirations. In much simpler terms, my primary goal after high school is to serve in the military, a devotion that has remained persistent throughout my life,” Henry Rodriguez said.