Jacob Haider
"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost" –Arthur Ashe. This quote almost perfectly articulates both my life's passion and how the Military will provide me with the skills and the experience to accomplish my goals. I have always been a big believer that the best people in this world are far and away those who dedicate their lives to the service of others, and I am also fully aware that taking that path and doing so is the hardest thing to do in this life. That is true heroism, not applause and medals but the inner peace and confidence that stands as a fortress inside you against all tempests when you know you are doing the right thing and living for others. My dreams are all centered on serving others and making a better world, and at this time I firmly believe that the best way for me to do that is serve my country, both in defense and as a politician. My belief in the United States of America as the most powerful force for change in this world, grounded on what it has meant to people the world over for over 200 years as well as its near unlimited potential in the future, is the force behind all of my dreams and goals.
My interest in serving this nation has always been great, but it was not until I first began my college career at Saint John's University that the idea of serving in the Military began gaining momentum. I have always had a passion for serving others, and coming to college and breaking out of my comfortable Minnesota suburban shell truly ignited my imagination, revealing the immense possibilities for great change that lay in a life committed to serving my country. About halfway through my first semester I decided that I would try out the ROTC program the following semester, and after that I was sold. ROTC combines my desire to serve my country with my dreams of becoming a politician and helping to make a better world, and I realized that this was not an opportunity I could pass up. The amazing thing is that when I came to Saint John's I had no idea that there was an ROTC program on campus, and had there not been everything would be different today. A quote from the fabulous film V For Vendetta sums up my thoughts on how I came to be enrolled in ROTC at Saint John's: "I, like God, do not play with dice and do not believe in coincidences." I could not be more thankful nor feel more blessed about this meeting with destiny, because where I am at right now feels like exactly where I need to be in order to realize my dreams.
Being a part of ROTC has completely transformed me. General Colin Powell said that "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure," and it is that mindset that the Military has instilled in me. My biggest weakness in life has always been discipline, from school to sports to the basic structure of my life. This has always bothered me, but I had previously never committed myself to overcoming this weakness and dedicating myself to change. ROTC has helped me to do that, not only providing structure to my life but motivating me by showing me very clearly the immense potential to be unlocked when you are disciplined. I have always been a good student, but I was also not challenge much in high school. That has all changed: I have realized the huge benefit of challenging yourself at every possible point, aiming higher and higher and never letting up, and the best part is that with my newfound discipline and dedication I am meeting every challenge I face. I feel like I have grown tremendously as a person these last two years, and I know for a fact that a large part of that is due to the influence ROTC has had upon me.
The Military has taught me to succeed in many different ways, but above all by instilling discipline in my life. It takes hard work and dedication to do anything worthwhile in this life, but knowledge of that does not automatically translate into the ability to do so. I have big dreams and goals for my life, beginning with serving and defending my country as an officer in the US Army and then moving on to serving and making it better as a politician. Just as a team that truly plays together can accomplish near anything, as powerfully shown with the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team defeating the Russians, a person that is fully centered, disciplined and dedicated, can change the world. The US Army is the best in the world because every soldier knows that they are part of something so much greater than themselves, defending a nation that represents the highest ideals and principles of humanity. I will be proud to serve in that Army, and it is in training to do so that I have found the confidence and discipline to transform myself into a person capable not only of serving his country as a US Army Officer, but also of accomplishing his dreams and changing the world. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that "The agonizing gulf between the 'ought' and the 'is' characterizes the pilgrimage of man," and it is with the goal of crossing that gulf foremost in my mind that I have joined ROTC and plan on dedicating my life to serving the United States of America.
