As the year comes to an end, seniors make important decisions that will affect their future. While many are off to colleges and universities, senior, Lucas Rosales is taking a different route to success. Rosales is interested in joining the United States Navy, the maritime military force.
Rosales has known he has wanted to join the Navy since his freshman year of high school. He was inspired by his uncles who served in the Navy and by his neighbor who is a Korean War veteran.
“I realized I want to serve my country and I thought I had a duty to do it. I wanted to be a pilot [and] the Navy has their own air force…I’ve thought about it for a lot of my life, but it didn’t really become a major thing that I wanted to do until freshman year,” Rosales said.
Rosales applied to the United States Naval Academy, and is waiting for a response. The academy prepares students to be members of the US Navy or the Marine Corps. The process of applying includes a physical test and a letter of recommendation. Rosales received his letter of recommendation from Illinois state representative Jan Schakowsky.
“There’s an initial form you fill out to make sure that you’re not a criminal…You need to get medical stuff checked out by the military. You get a letter of recommendation from a senator, a house rep or the vice president which is pretty difficult for some people. That’s the base barrier. Then you have to submit your transcript and the more basic stuff, but definitely your physical test and your medical test,” Rosales said.
Outside of preparing for the Navy, Rosales participates in multiple after-school activities. He is the secretary general for Model UN and a part of Politics and Current Events Club [PACE].
“Lucas is a thoughtful student with a great sense of humor. He’s also creative and can think on his feet. In PACE, Lucas always tries to participate and is usually good for a couple of laughs during our meetings. He seems to really care deeply about issues that affect our society,” PACE Club sponsor, Joseph Edwards, said.
Rosales participates in PACE and is a Model UN with his close friend August Bicknese-Klein.
“I would describe Lucas as passionate, patriotic and devoted. He has been open for a long time about his dreams of joining the U.S. Navy and serving his country. It must be noted that he does not flaunt his feelings for his country or hold them so that others can see, but authentically believes in America and her ideals. He is also committed to his other goals, which is admirable,” Bicknese-Klein said.
If Rosales is rejected by the Naval Academy, he will go to college for four years to become a naval aviator. Rosales recommends that other students should do research if they’re interested in joining the military.
“I would recommend that if you join, do your research. Understand what they will ask of you, and then also understand the benefits you can get. Don’t go in there blind,” Rosales said.
