SARASOTA – High Schools students at the Sarasota Military Academy are thinking about their future plans in the military.
For freshman Cassandra Bryan her father’s role in the military has influenced her. “My dad was in the army for about six years and then he just has a bunch of army posters and everything around the house so I’ve been brought up with army influences,” said Bryan.
But Bryan wants to follow her own path by joining the air force. “I also do want to go into the military so I can tell people that I protected them, I want to have that feeling that I had a part of how they’re living,” said Bryan.
However, senior Lukas Souza says joining the military is a family tradition.
“My father was in the navy, my grandfather was in the marines and airmen and my great grandfather was also in the army. I have all their enlisted papers and all their memorabilia and everything,” said Souza.
Souza plans to enlist in the army not following in his father’s footsteps in the navy. “We’ve definitely talked about it and there’s been a couple disagreements about it but for the most part there is a mutual understanding,” he said.
Souza says protecting and defending our nation is an honor – and one he doesn’t take for granted. “Less than half of 8% of people in this nation will step up to the plate and serve and when there are needs for this country there will be very few people to standup and say send me,” said Souza
Both Souza and Bryan agree on one thing-that joining the military is an experience like no other.
“The experiences that you have the people you meet the bonds you that you have with the other people are just probably the greatest thing that you’ll ever have,” Souza said.