On the morning of February 23rd, twenty-nine students finally gathered in the library with the same purpose in mind: to take the ASVAB; originally scheduled one week earlier due to heavy snow, these students were now ready to volunteer to take a test. For some, they were simply curious as to how they'd score on this aptitude test designed to measure the strengths, weaknesses, and potential for future military success. For others, they want to score their very best so they can be placed in their military career of choice; for Brianna McCollums, this means that the results of this test could bring her closer to securing a position training canines to serve on the EOD Bomb Squad.
Inspired by her mother and grandfather, both former Marines, she has been raised to understand the value of service. While she was much too young to remember the events of 9/11, she grew up in the shadow of the tragedy; with this in mind, she responds that her reason to serve is so she can "fight for those who were never given a voice."
She understands that this is going to be a challenging journey, but the words “Can’t” or “Won’t” do not exist in her vocabulary. "I want to prove those negative people wrong -- that I CAN make it through to become a Marine like my mother and grandfather," replies McColums. "I want to make my family and friends proud, and most importantly, I want to feel good about my choice to serve my country."
McCollums, a junior studying Veterinary Assistant, has just committed with her recruiter to serve our country with the Marines. Once her scores come back from the ASVABs she took this morning, she will sign her intent to begin her service as a Marine.
