High school senior Deneszria has specific plans for her future: She wants to go to college, but then she wants to join the Army.
Deneszria attends Foreman College and Career Academy High School, where she’s a member of Junior ROTC. Through that program, she was on the drill team and has taken part in different competitions. She also has a paid job with the program, handing out uniforms.
As part of JROTC, high school students visit local elementary school to teach. “Our mission is to make better citizens in communities like ours,” she said.
Deneszria has been coming to Cluster since her sophomore year of high school. Her tutor is Keith Vogt. A former Marine, Keith advised her to go to college before she joined the Army, “because he said I could join at a higher rank,” she said.
Keith has tutored at Cluster for six years, and this is the third year with Deneszria. “She’s been my best student,” he said. “She really embraces the work and keeps at it. She knows what she has to do to better herself.”
“Keith has helped me learn a lot,” Deneszria said. “He helps me stay on track.”
Deneszria has been accepted at six colleges and currently is favoring the University of Alabama. “Their African-American studies major is a good program,” she said. She also wants to study accounting, but she knows she wants to keep her options open. Her favorite subjects are math and science, so she’s also considering STEM majors.
Meanwhile, Keith and Deneszria are looking for scholarship opportunities.
Once Deneszria joins the Army, she knows she’ll have at least a three-year stint, which is the shortest amount of time for serving. “But I can still go to school while I’m in the Army,” she said.