Centennial’s NJROTC, Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, has announced its change in command for the 2020-2021 school year.
The top three job ranking cadets in the program are now Savanah Henderson, Preston Edwards and Hailey Hudson.
Their three year journey throughout high school and ROTC has determined their future and the type of cadets, young trainees in armed service, that they are in the program. During this time, it also gave them many opportunities to meet new people and make lifelong friendships.
“Being in ROTC for three full years is probably the best [thing] that has happened to me in high school. It isn’t because of the community service hours, or the leadership opportunities, but the lasting friendships I have made,” senior, Savanah Henderson said.
With this in mind, all of these cadets have made many memories with the people that they have met throughout the years.
“My favorite memories are definitely the ones I made with my friends on the drill deck with the armed drill team. They are my actual brothers and nothing could change that,” senior, Preston Edwards said.
“I would definitely say one of my favorite memories would be the trip to San Diego with ROTC this past year,” senior, Hailey Hudson said.
Not only have they made long-lasting memories, but they have also been taught important life lessons as well.
“Personally, my most important lesson is to never allow yourself to be disrespected. It’s very important to treat others how you would like to be treated,” Edwards said.
Along with these important lessons; these cadets have learned what their greatest strengths and weaknesses are.
“My strengths would have to be dedication, loyalty, and perseverance. My weaknesses would have to be the fact that I would get a little too much into my head, and forget that maybe having a high school life outside of ROTC matters if I am being honest,” Henderson said.
Strengths and weaknesses aside, however, there will be new challenges since the new school year is currently online due to COVID-19.
“Being online brings a new challenge to the table that has never really been dealt [with] before. It’s difficult not being able to communicate with the students and to help them and watch them grow face to face…Although we have gone through these struggles, we handle it as a team, and [we] will get through this together,” Edwards said.
Overall, this year is a hopeful one, despite the struggles that come with the journey.