There are many times in life when we are forced to step out of our comfort zone. For me, one of those moments came when my parents forced me to join JROTC at Waynesville High School. The goal of the program is to help the cadets grow to be better citizens in the community, and I stand by that. The JROTC program has not only helped me grow as a person but also has made me want to have a bigger impact on the people I meet during my lifetime.

The great Saint Ignatius is quoted as saying, “teach us to give and not count the cost”. I cannot begin to describe the gift I have been given in JROTC. Our leaders pour themselves into our lessons without asking anything in return from us. A common misconception is that if one goes through JROTC, they must then join the military. I now know that this is not true. The purpose of the program is to create better citizens and to teach us how to help the community. They also teach us that to be a better citizen you have to give without asking for anything in return. That to me is the main lesson of JROTC.

Unsolicited Essay from a Waynesville Army JROTC LET -1