Northern Virginia is one of the most academically competitive areas in the US, and it is easy for any Asian American, like myself, to get caught up in pursuing the typical career path of engineer, doctor, or lawyer. However, even as a young child, I had always wanted to join the US Air Force and be a pilot, but the reasons for doing so were far from a mindset of servitude. Until I joined the JROTC program in high school, I was oblivious to the gravity of serving a nation, more importantly, serving the United States. Through JROTC, I learned what it means to be of selfless service to others, and I found a talent for leadership as I earned numerous awards and recognitions. But more importantly, I found that I can use this skill set to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Proper servant leadership can change lives, as it also saves lives. Leadership is not a skill that is easily acquired, and I am extremely grateful for my instructors who were able to instill the catalyst for me to grow. Rather than let it go to waste, I wish to use what I've learned to protect the country that I love, thus I have committed myself to serve this nation by enrolling in AFROTC at Penn State University, and commissioning as an officer in the armed forces. Aside from philosophical reasons for joining the armed forces, the opportunities present for garnering certain industry skill sets are also quite the eye-catcher. As an aspiring engineer and pilot, the military presents itself as a great option to advance my career, as well as move on to other opportunities in the future. I wish to work in the aerospace industry after my service, and the military has great opportunities to transition into those fields, such as space operations and satellite maintenance. To get a head start on my career, I applied to the Virginia Space Grant Consortium Private Pilot's Ground School and was accepted as one of the 40 selectees in the State of Virginia. Of course, I would not even be able to start any of my aspirations without the necessary effort to improve myself. Since I was a young child, I delved into sports, trying as many as I could until I settled on the ones where I found the most success. Throughout middle school and high school, I worked physically in maintaining proper physical health in preparation for the rigor in ROTC and military aviation. In high school, I went on to do Track/Field, and club football, and then finally settled on doing martial arts competitively. In addition, I garnered skill sets such as tutoring and public speaking through various programs at my high school. One of the most prominent examples is attending Boys State, where I used my leadership and public speaking skill sets, to then be elected as the 2022 Lt. Governor. Service opportunities were also a monumental aspect of learning servant leadership and selflessness, two essential aspects of a leader. Since middle school, my family has been going to Washington, DC as part of the KCPC Homeless Ministry to serve food and spread the Good Word of God. Above all, the mental preparation for service came through various leadership books like "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink (US Navy Seal), which I hold dear to my heart. My experience in AFJROTC and the mentorship of my instructors built me into the leader I am today, and I am excited to use my skills for the service of this nation.

As most applicants will say, we have an unpayable debt to our nation and those who sacrificed their lives to protect it. It wasn't until I joined AFJROTC, that I realized the true meaning behind servant leadership from a military perspective. As a young child, I had always wanted to join the US Air Force and be a pilot, but the reasons for doing so were far from a mindset of servitude. Until I joined the JROTC program in high school, I was oblivious to the gravity of serving a nation, more importantly, serving the United States. As I progressed through AFJROTC, I learned about servant leadership, and the importance of teamwork, no matter the environment and no matter the people. Sacrifice is a word that captures servant leadership with the most detail. A subtle and solemn word, but one that has a tremendous impact when used. A sacrifice of time away from family, to go to a foreign land and preserve democracy that the native people otherwise couldn't fight for. But even something less extreme, like a leader who sacrifices time with his/her family, to stay behind and clean a room with their team. Both cases are an example of selfless service, sacrifice, and servant leadership. I have a passion for helping others, no matter who they are, or what their political beliefs are. It is democracy itself, the flag which flies freely, that I may even attempt to do as such. It is through the sacrifices made, both foreign and domestic that I can stand as a free man, and this is something I desperately want to protect as well. Through JROTC, I learned what it means to be of selfless service to others, and I found a talent for leadership as I earned numerous awards and recognitions. But more importantly, I found that I can use this skill set to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Proper servant leadership can change lives, as it also saves lives. Leadership is not a skill that is easily acquired, and I am extremely grateful for my instructors who were able to instill the catalyst for me to grow. Rather than let it go to waste, I wish to use what I've learned to protect the country that I love, thus I have committed myself to serve this nation by enrolling in AFROTC at Penn State University, and commissioning as an officer in the armed forces.