TRAVELING THE ARMY ROAD TO SUCCESS MOTIVATION OF THE SERVICE HELPS MAN FINISH SCHOOL.Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - Midway through his senior year at Simi Valley High School Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California which was established in 1920 as the first high school in the valley. It nestles in the Santa Susana Mountains and is adjacent to the San Fernando Valley, part of the city and county of Ventura. , Frank Herrera found himself unmotivated, and he began ditching classes before dropping out altogether to go to work. He was behind in his credits - after being home-schooled during his freshman year - and he figured there was no point in continuing on to graduation. He left school in 1998 and lived aimlessly aim·less adj. Devoid of direction or purpose. aim  less·ly adv.aim for a while, taking a job at a supermarket. Although he entered Ventura County's fire cadet program, he was unsure that was where he wanted to concentrate his life. Eventually he had to take a hard look at where he was going. ``I decided I wanted to college, and decided I needed to make a change because I wasn't going anywhere,'' he said. ``I was walking by the Army recruiting office near my job, and I decided to go in. They offered me the chance to do the job I wanted, so I took it.'' He figured the $50,000 he'd get from the Army for his college education would go a long way toward getting him to medical school, where he hopes to study to be a pediatrician. But first, he had to get his high school diploma A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED. . He enrolled in classes at the Simi Valley Adult School and at Apollo Continuation High School A continuation high school is an alternative to a comprehensive high school primarily for students who are considered at-risk of not graduating at the normal pace. The requirements to graduate are the same but the scheduling is more flexible to allow students to earn their credits . He spent months back in the classroom, and by April 1999, he was ready to graduate. He left for boot camp Software from Apple that enables an Intel x86-based Macintosh to host the Windows XP operating system. Boot Camp is used to divide the hard disk into Windows and Mac partitions, to install the necessary drivers and to create a dual boot environment. the night of his graduation from Apollo. Now, Herrera is among 1,134 enlisted men and women to be accepted into the prestigious U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York West Point is a federal military base (and a census-designated place) located in the Town of Highland Falls in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census. . Herrera, 20, said he was surprised when he was singled out among his classmates Classmates can refer to either:
``I didn't really think about being an officer until my drill sergeant (Mil.) a noncommissioned officer whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military exercises and evolutions. (Mil.) See under Drill. See also: Drill Sergeant told me to apply,'' he said. ``It looked like a lot of opportunity for me, and I'm in the Army for the opportunities it can give me, so I decided to do it. ``I wondered if I'd make it, though,'' he said. ``I'm sure it's very competitive.'' Competitive indeed, according to West Point officials. Take the Class of 2003. Of the 11,490 applicants, 4,020 students were nominated and only 1,134 were admitted by passing the rigorous academic and physical aptitude tests. The academy, established in 1802, prepares students for a career of service as an officer, but also offers a variety of academic majors for those who move on to civilian life after their five-year service commitment. Major Kirk Gohlke, admissions director, said its students generally were valedictorians, national merit scholars, and 73 percent rank in the first fifth of their high school graduating classes. Herrera said his sights are still set on being a pediatrician, something he's wanted to do since he found that he enjoyed helping to take care of his younger brothers, ages 1, 3, 6 and 16. But for now, he's honing his interest in military intelligence, which he began studying after boot camp, in the Army's advanced individual training program. His military job entails finding out and reporting all he can about the enemy to his superiors. ``I like computers and I like to know things that no one else does,'' he said of his choice of military occupation. ``I have top secret clearance now.'' He credits his mother, Sandra Dalaba, for inspiring him to continue his education and get his life back. His mother said she's always had more faith in Frank than he's had in himself at times. ``I've always thought he was smart, and I know that when he has his mind set on something they'll accomplish it,'' she said. Herrera also credits Apollo High School Apollo High School could refer to any of the following educational institutions in the United States:
``Apollo had the best teachers I've ever had,'' he said. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. why. They were able to teach me in my learning style. The teachers were really good to me and they made me want to do better. They were really eager to help me.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Frank Herrera is one of the few accepted into the U.S. Military Academy. Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News |
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