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Overcome adversity. One of those phrases that all of us have heard hundreds of times before. One of the most overused clichés of all time. You hear it on the football field, where your coaches ask you to give that extra yard or beat that better team. You hear it on almost every movie that you watch. You hear it on documentaries. Everywhere. Yet, there are certain instances where you can actually relate to it, and the biggest one for me was when I first arrived to MMA. I was 14 year old kid, exhilarated for this new chapter in life I was getting ready to commence, yet curious and somewhat afraid of what was coming next. I was a foreign student, having English as my second language and knowing little about the school culture. I was a quite edgy and impassive kid, therefore feared I wouldn’t be able to adapt to the discipline system. Many of my friends thought the school would not be a good fit for me. So I went out to prove them wrong. There were things that happened my first year that really marked me and set me on course for everything that I am now trying to accomplish. For example, I distinctly remember a junior class cadet who lived just down the hall. His name is D’Cherion Nelson, he was the band’s Drum Major and one of the first cadets that I truly respected and looked up to. I remember every single morning I would be hustling around trying to get my room and uniform tidy and up to standard. Yet, when DC came out to brush his teeth, I would always stop and look his way. He had this special something about the way he conducted himself which I longed to emulate. He gleamed confidence, he quietly and humbly demanded respect, was both loved and respected by faculty and cadets alike. He accomplished many things, but was never arrogant. That was the brilliance of D.C. He let his actions speak louder than his words. He then went on to become the Battalion Commander of the Academy during his senior year, which only increased my admiration for him. So for the two years I was able to be with him, I soaked in everything that I could, I asked him for advice every chance I got and tried to follow his path. Back then, I was merely a 14 year old looking up to an upperclassman, yet I set my bar high and understood what it took to replicate DC’s success. Four years later, here I am, the highest ranking cadet of the junior class, and Band Company’s Drum Major. After all that MMA has done for me, I have decided that I want to give back to them. I want to help future cadets and parents get a better understanding of the Academy through my blog posts and pictures. I want to take you guys, my audience, through this rigorous yet very rewarding journey. My journey through the Missouri Military Academy. So without further ado, I shall sign out. Stay tuned everybody, because you’re in for a ride! He might not have been the most photogenic of cadets, but he was one of the best leaders.
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