Benediction is the opposite of chatty. You won’t hear her coming down the halls, and you’ll never see a teacher scold her for talking too much during class. She’s described by her friends as humble, independent, and driven. 

Like many Seniors at MHS, Benediction is future-oriented. With her sights set on medical school, she’s been proactive by taking difficult classes and making sacrifices for her future.

 “I plan to become a pediatrician, so that’s obviously going to take a lot of schooling and a lot of money.”  She explains.

 Benediction joined the National Guard during her Junior year of high school.  By taking the proactive steps necessary to be debt-free, she set her future self up for success. Now, unlike most high school seniors, Benediction has her post-secondary education paid for… through Iowa’s Army National Guard.

She notes, ”The main reason I joined the National Guard was because they will pay for a majority of my tuition.”

According to the Pew Research Center, about 40% of Americans who pursued a post-secondary education have been in debt. By signing up for the National Guard, Benediction is taking the bull by the horns and prioritizing her future.  But so far, the National Guard has offered her more than she initially signed up for.

”The National Guard builds your character…They will test your patience,” she said knowingly.

Benediction’s most recent extended experience with the National Guard was Basic Training: A ten-week boot camp that marks the beginning of every soldier’s journey. She completed this program last summer, before the start of her senior year. 

“In basic training, we were taught that not everybody shares the same beliefs, and that that’s okay.” She explained,  “In the Army, it’s not about individuality; it’s about being a team.”

Benediction introduces an interesting point, highlighting that it’s less about people’s differences and more about coming together to achieve a goal. 

In addition to a fostered team mentality, Benediction’s character was strengthened during her summer at Basic Training. It’s fair to say the Army National Guard has a reputation for being tough and grueling. But she knew what she was signing up for.

”There’s obviously going to be hard things in life; life is hard.” She quipped nonchalantly, 

“So finding what’s going to help you, mentally and physically, is important.”

A lesson many high schoolers have yet to learn, Benediction has transcended.

“There are going to be challenges,” she reinforces,  “but you have to keep pushing through. You have to have perseverance.”

Perseverance: a buzzword in modern culture, but what does it actually mean? Perseverance, historically, is defined as “a steadfast, continuous effort despite difficulties and suffering, leading to character and hope.” And to Benediction, it means something similar.

 “To me, having perseverance means to be able to do something to the best of your ability no matter the circumstances,” Benediction notes.

Perseverance is an important character trait that is required to achieve any sort of success. The principle that the ability to endure hardship produces hope is eternally relevant. But especially now, in 2026, this is a good message for people to be reminded of.

 By being proactive and beginning with the end in mind, Benediction has set her future self up for success. Not only does she have her path to medical school paved and paid, but she is also equipped with the core character traits that promote success and favor the achievement of long-term goals.