At Lakeland High School, many students are known for their leadership and athletic abilities. But few end up bringing these qualities throughout their life with future job plans.
Zach McGee has decided to use his abilities to the fullest and serve our country by joining the military.
“Zach is a responsible man and I think that the military will be lucky to have him,” Austin Howell, one of McGee’s friends said.
He has decided to make a difference in the world and join the United States army and he can put all of his good characteristics to use.
“I Plan on leaving just a few weeks after the Lakeland graduation,” McGee said. “I enlisted earlier in the year so my ship date happened to be soon after my graduation.”
When Zach arrives at his home base he will have to go through a five month long “boot camp.”
Zach is somewhat nervous for this new season of life and the fears of the unknown but he is excited to get away from his hometown for a little while and do something new.
“I think the army will be good for Zach because it can show him what he wants to do in the future after the army and he can use it as a stepping stool,” Chase Petersen, a classmate of McGee said.
McGee says that his current contract with the United States army is going to last for four years, after he serves his time he will see where life takes him from there.
“I have wanted to join the army since I was little because I would hear stories from my dad and grandpa and it motivated me to join the military,” Zach said.
When Zach was little, after hearing about the stories of his relatives in the army, he would imagine what his life would be like at some point in the future when he would join.
Zach says that his dad and grandpa are happy he chose to join. Zach’s grandpa was in the air force and served the Vietnam war. His dad has been giving him advice on what to do, what not to do, and being aware of things that could potentially happen.
“A goal for me after the Army is to figure out what I want to do as a civilian, maybe be a teacher or a police officer,” McGee said.
He would be interested in being a teacher because history has always been fascinating to him and he would like to teach others about it.
He believes that being a police officer would be good since he could use his experience from the military over to law enforcement.
