Jacobs stands out for military enlistment;
also as first NHS student elected to state office for TSA
By Elena Osmanllari
Dragon Echo Staf
Sam Jacobs is not your average high school student, and part of the reason for that is that he challenges himself to go above and beyond expectations.
Sam is the first person from NHS ever elected to state office in the Technology Students Association. But that is not the only thing that makes him unique.
He also enlisted in the United States Army at the end of his junior year in high school and spent 10 weeks of his summer in basic training. As an ambitious student, Sam is working hard to accomplish goals that will help him in his future career in the military.
Over the summer, Sam went to basic training in Jackson, South Carolina to become familiarized with the Army, how to treat casualties and how to respond when a casualty happens. He also learned how to shoot 50-300 meters and completed 96 hours of field training. Field training included everything from hand-to-hand combat, shooting and crawling through the dirt under machine guns.
”It was really an awesome experience,” Sam said. “It made me a better person.”
Sam has wanted to join the Army since he was in the fifth grade, and ever since his recruiter told him there was an opportunity to do so he was sure that he was going to join as soon as he possibly could.
”After I graduate from college my plan is to join the Army full-time and serve for around 20 years,” he said.
He wants to be a mechanical engineer for the Army and for that reason Sam is going to study engineering in college.
But the Army is not the only passion of Sam’s. He is also president of TSA for the high school. His shop teacher, James Mason, has always seen the potential in him and convinced him to join TSA.
”I have been part of TSA since freshmen year,” Sam said. “It has always a passion of mine because I enjoy woodworking, engineering, leadership and every other thing TSA offers.”
Another interesting fact about Sam is that he is the first student from Nacogdoches High school to run for state officer for TSA, and to be elected.
”I am proud to say that I come from a school that is considered small, and to represent it in the whole state,” he said.
Since he is going to be part of the Army, leadership plays a major role.
”You might have to lead anywhere from 60 to thousands of people,” he said. “Being part of TSA enhanced his skills as a leader. Those skills helped him in basic training and are definitely going to help him in his career path.”
Choosing a career path and walking through it requires support.
Sam said his parents have always supported him, helping him take important steps.
”I am the first one in the family to study engineering, so my family is there for me encouraging me to do what I want to do,” he said.
Sam has something to say for other students: “Join TSA, and find where you belong. There are scholarships there waiting for you. Someday you can be a scientist, artist or leader. Use all the opportunities school offers you.”
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