Coming into Menchville High School as a ninth grader, Aniya Agron wasn't interested in joining the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
\r\nFour years later, she's really glad her mother so strongly suggested it.
\r\n\"It's definitely defined my high school experience,\" Agron said.
\r\nAgron will graduate in June after four years in Menchville's Air Force JROTC program. She will enlist in the Air Force and report to San Antonio, Texas, to begin basic training.
\r\nAll of this is far from the freshman whose pre-conceived notions of the program almost kept her from pursing a great opportunity. The idea of demanding instructors and grueling training with students she might not connect with swirled in her mind.
\r\nStarting off doing the bare minimum by sitting in class, Agron accepted a classmate's encouragement to stay after school one day to do drill. She enjoyed it.
\r\nAfter attaining her first rank, she thought about trying for another one.
\r\n\"Slowly I started falling down this rabbit hole to the point where I was starting to plan for years in the future wanting future positions in the corps,\" Agron said. \"Wanting to be the drill deputy in my second year, commander in my third and then be a part of top five in my fourth.
\r\n\"It's just been such a defining thing of spending so much time with these people and coming to work with each other. And it's almost like a family. After as much work and as many lessons as we've been through, it's a great experience.\"
\r\nShe reached each of the yearly goals she set. The JROTC program has been integral to improving her grades and confidence, according to Agron.
\r\n\"What ROTC helped me do was learn how to manage my time, learn how to grow and mature and also my leadership skills,\" Agron said. \"And I feel like now if I have a group assignment in class, I'm able to say this is what needs to get done, this is how we're going to organize things. And it has definitely prepped and helped me learn how to manage myself better and understand priorities in life.\"
\r\nShe stressed the importance of competing for your own personal best and not comparing or getting caught up in other people's achievements or choices.
\r\n\"Don't let anybody tell you your worth or what you should be,\" Agron said. \"Just remember 18 for 62, which is a saying that sarge used to tell us. You have 18 years to prep for the 62 that you have left.
\r\n\"Focus on that and doing what you can for yourself. Not even to set up your career, but to do what makes you happy.\"
","body2":"Visit Student Spotlights on the Newport News Public Schools website.
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