By YM/SgtMaj Anna T. Saucedo Temecula Valley (CA) I had only been to local schools for junior and senior leadership school; I was excited and curious to see how Advanced Leadership School at the National Leadership Academy would be similar, and different. I spoke with many ALS alumni and all of them had one thing in common: They all keep in contact with Young Marines they had meet at their Advanced Leadership Schools. I didn’t believe it though. I thought, “How can you meet a complete stranger and grow so close to them in just two weeks?” I had to experience this. Sure enough, I made countless new friends at ALS, and from every corner of the nation! When you are placed into high stress, time-sensitive situations, you instantly learn how to work as a cohesive team with the people around you. You learn to depend on them, they are your team, they are your family. Regardless of your differences, you all now share one thing: a common goal. If you have the opportunity to attend the National Leadership Academy, take it, without a doubt. If your time left in the program allows, strive to attend ALS, it is an experience that cannot be matched anywhere else. I assure you, you will learn lessons that mold you as a leader, and you will make friends that last a lifetime. ALS: A Place to Make Leaders, Memories, and Lifelong Friends By YM/​ ​PFC​ ​Zoë​ ​Ferreira Rhode​ ​Island​ ​(RI)  I​ ​joined​ ​the​ ​Rhode​ ​Island​ ​Young​​ Marines​ ​in​ ​January​ ​of​ ​2017​ ​-​ ​my​​ freshmen​ ​year​ ​of​ ​high​ ​school. A​ ​dream​ ​of​ ​mine​ ​is to​ ​one​ ​day​​ proudly​ ​enlist​ ​in​ ​​ ​the​ ​United​ ​ States​ ​military,​ ​ and I​ ​thought​ ​ this would​ ​be​ ​​ ​a​ ​good​ ​way​ ​of​ ​ dipping​ ​my​ ​toe​ ​into​ ​the​ ​vast​ ​ world​ ​of​ ​disciplined​ ​experienc- es.​ ​What​ ​I expected​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​from​​ joining​ ​this​​ ​program​ ​was​ ​a​ ​bit​​ more​ ​knowledge​ ​on​ ​the​ ​military and​ ​perhaps​ ​get​ ​closer​ ​with​ ​a​ ​ new​ ​community.​ ​ What​ ​I​ ​never​ ​imagined​ ​was​ ​to​ ​make​ ​life-long friends​ ​and​​ discover​ ​a​ ​new​ ​side​ ​of​ ​myself.​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​realize​ ​what​ ​a​ ​disci- plined​ ​person​ ​I​ ​could​ ​be with​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​self-control​ ​and​ ​motiva- tion.​ ​​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​I​ ​would​ ​ever​​ have​ ​learned​ ​what​ ​a​ ​big impact​​ my​ ​actions​ ​had​ ​on​ ​other​ ​people.​ ​Being​ ​a​ ​Young​ ​Marine​ ​has​ ​ taught​ ​me​ ​to​ ​always​ ​be con- scious​ ​of​ ​my​ ​actions​ ​and​ ​recog- nize​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​indeed​ ​a​ ​leader​​ and​ ​my​ ​actions​ ​-​ ​along​ ​with everyone​ ​else’s​ - ​share​ ​a​ ​com- munal​ ​dimension.​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​ make​ ​my​ ​country,​ ​my​ ​parents,​ ​ my friends,​ ​and​ ​myself​ ​proud.​ ​ In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​succeed​ ​in​ ​my​ ​goals,​​ especially​ ​during​ ​these​ ​trying​ ​ times of​ ​adolescence,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​​ important​ ​to​ ​be​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​a​ ​ program,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Young​ ​Marines,​ ​that teaches​ ​us​ ​to​ ​be​​ strong,​ ​get​ ​involved​ ​with​ ​the​ ​community​ ​by​ ​being​ ​a​ ​good​ ​citi- zen,​ ​and​ ​staying drug-free. YM PFC: What​ ​I’ve Learned From The​ ​Young​ ​Marines Standing proud with the Rhode Island Young Marines. 24 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE By YM/MGySgt Ellie M.Trahern Rogue Valley (OR) Division Six PublicAffairs Correspondent I had the opportunity to be the Pub- lic Affairs Correspondent for this year’s National Leadership Academy. For those of you who don’t know, the National Leadership Academy is comprised of the three different leadership schools: Ju- nior, Senior, and Advanced. Advanced leaders arrive one week ear- lier than the Juniors and Seniors, where they are instructed how to grow and de- velop their subordinates. After the first week’s completion, the Advanced leaders then go on to teach the Junior and Senior Leadership schools, and apply the skills they learned in the first week. I attended Advanced Leader- ship School two years ago, so I was able to come back as a Young Marine Staff last year as well. Both experiences of- fered me the chance to grow and expe- rience leadership in new and different ways. This year, however, was completely dif- ferent. As a Public Affairs Correspondent, I re- ally didn’t have a leadership role, and I saw the National Leadership Academy in a whole new way. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to really get to know those who attended Advanced, Senior, and Junior Leadership Schools, and I saw their individual struggles and how each and every one of them learned to over- come them. The opportunities that the Young Ma- rines program offers you to grow and strive are boundless and important for your future. As I approach my last year in the program, I am able to reflect back on the tremendous adventures and my development into the (almost) adult that I am today. I hope that those of you who have not attended the National Leader- ship Academy, or any SPACES for that matter, read this and apply next year. Nothing is out of your reach, and the amazing friends, limitless opportuni- ties, and your potential to blossom into a phenomenal leader is waiting for you. All you have to do is apply yourself in everything that you do. Another Extraordinary Year at the National Leadership Academy