Sean Fussell

Age: 18, Senior at South Sumter High School

After I graduate high school, I will join the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

One day, two Marine Corps recruiters came into the classroom and showed us a video. The video lit a fire in me. I realized then that I wanted to serve in the best branch and receive the best training.

When I told my family members I wanted to be a Marine, some tried to discourage me. They said the Marines are too tough. However, I refuse to give up. I want to train with the best soldiers.

I have been a part of South Sumter High School’s ROTC program for four years. It has given me the confidence, self-discipline, and leadership skills necessary to become an outstanding Marine.

The movie “Full Metal Jacket” does not scare me from becoming a Marine. I laugh during the boot camp portion of the movie.

Last June, I attended the Leadership Academy at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg. It is a weeklong boot camp for high school ROTC students. This was the hardest week of my life. We would wake up at 5:20a.m. to do physical fitness exercises and conquer obstacles. The drill instructors were tough, but it helped prepare me for what I’ll face during boot camp as a Marine.

I also attended Student Leadership University last July in Orlando. I listened to pastors, chief executive officers, and other industry leaders talk about the importance of leadership. Attending both the Leadership Academy and Student Leadership University crafted me into a better leader than I would have been otherwise.

I have been competing in armed exhibition drills since my sophomore year. Armed exhibition involves spinning a rifle and requires extreme concentration and strength. At my first competition at Winter Park High School, I finished in second place. That qualified me to compete in the state competition in Oviedo, where I also finished in second place.

In armed exhibition drills I compete with a 9.2-pound 1903 Springfield rifle. I used to practice every day with a rifle that had a bayonet.

My favorite movie is “Smokey and The Bandit.” I really like the old Burt Reynolds

VITAL STATS
Hitting the books: Maintains a 3.5 grade-point average.
Quite advanced: Sean is taking an advanced placement class in government and politics.
On track for success: Sean stars on his high school track team. His girlfriend, Daila Miller, encouraged him to join the track team after he finished his first 5K race in 22 minutes.