Senior Angelyna Banag has been in JROTC for four years, including three at Wichita Falls High School. This year she has become Memorial’s first battalion commander.
The Memorial Messenger sat down with Banag for senior night to discuss her favorite aspects of the program.
Q: Why have you been in JROTC for so long?
A: I joined because my dad really wanted me to be a part of something like that, and I stayed for so long because I met so many good people and made a lot of good friends. I get to go to a lot of activities.
Q: What do you want to accomplish your senior year and why?
A: I think the main thing I wanted to accomplish was to become the battalion commander, which I did. I think to continue going forward I want to try to create more community with each other, because so many schools are coming together with different traditions.
Q: What has it been like changing schools during your final year of JROTC?
A: How it has been structured at Rider, Old High and Hirschi has all been different, so we all have to come together to create something new.
Q: What will you miss the most once you leave JROTC?
A: I think it’s something I’m already missing now, the community we created with each other for the past few years, but because a lot of my good friends are already at Legacy, it’s kind of something I’m already missing now.
Q: What have you learned as a member of JROTC?
A: Being in JROTC taught me a lot of leadership qualities. I was able to be put out there, and I had to come out of my shell a little bit more, and had to learn to lead a group of people.
Q: How have you changed since your freshman year and why?
A: Freshman year I started off really shy and (keeping) to myself. Being in JROTC let me not only meet a lot of good people but also helped me come out of my shell. I think it helped grow confidence both in myself and confidence in my leadership abilities.
Q: What is special to JROTC to you?
A: I think it’s just so different from other programs and clubs because it’s very student-led. Compared to other programs and clubs, often there’s a teacher helping you, but really with JROTC it’s a lot on your own, your ideas and decisions.
Q: What is the best thing from JROTC so far this year?
A: I think also with the new schools you get to meet new people and also be surrounded by a different type of people.
