Five years later, Yesaki Serrato has achieved that goal.
He was commanding officer for Alpha company in his senior year and also will graduate as class valedictorian with a 4.21 GPA.
Along the way, Yesaki Serrato has learned a thing or two about leadership.
As he rose through the ranks in the school, Yesaki Serrato figured out that being a good leader is all about striking the right balance between friend and mentor. Through trial and error, he learned that younger kids respect an officer who is kind but not overly lenient, friendly but also serious when he needs to be.
Making personal connections with every member of his company was the best way Yesaki Serrato found to learn and grow.
“I learned that leadership isn’t just about sitting down and giving orders,” he said.
Yesaki Serrato’s time in command of Alpha company has even had a major impact on his career goals.
He will be attending the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education this fall, with plans to one day become a teacher. Yesaki Serrato said he now has a passion for being a role model for younger kids.