James DeChristofano by James

James DeChristofano by James - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

There are many significant changes someone goes through when they enter High School. At an early age I always wanted to serve my country in the Army, but I had to ask myself which route I wanted to take to accomplish this goal. You must have integrity and maturity in order to make a solid decision regarding which path to take and I feel ROTC Army while studying to become a Civil Engineer is the path for me. Growing up playing both Football and Wrestling gave me a sense of comradery and determination to achieve the goals in which I set for myself. I attended the Morris County Public Safety Youth Academy for two years where I earned the Teamwork Award. This award was awarded by my fellow cadets for my leadership and problem-solving skills. This following year I attended and graduated from the New Jersey Police Youth Academy week. This weeklong sleepaway program is designed to mimic the police academy using drills and classroom work. Completing these programs only solidified my dream of enrolling in the ROTC Army.
When faced with a challenge I try to see all points of view, gather all the facts, and then try to come up with a solution so I don’t make any uninformed decisions. Wrestling and football have become good character-building activities for me over the years. Football you acquire the skills it takes to work with others in high energy and intense situations. I have tried to support and encourage my teammates while placing high standards on myself and my performance. Wrestling has taught me to reflect on a situation, assess my options and come to a decision quickly. This sport has built my self-confidence, maturity and has taught me how to be humble.
I have always tried to be the person a friend or family member can count on. This past year and a half has been one of the toughest years for my family, friends and myself. We all had to deal with the sudden loss of a man who I considered an uncle and was the father of my close friend. I made sure to support my family and friends anyway I could. Whether it be talking about the good times or simply being there so they're not alone. I had to learn how to deal with loss and sadness while figuring out how to help myself and others move forward. I wanted to raise awareness for heart health in honor of this great man, therefore I designed, distributed and donated proceeds of custom wristbands to charity. Unfortunately, tragedy didn’t end there, one of my closest friends and someone I considered a brother, was murdered along with his mom a few months after that. Just like for my uncle, I decided that I wanted to create bracelets and donate to spread awareness for domestic violence. When we lost our friend and his mom, our friend group of five became four, and we all had to find a way of dealing with the loss. We wanted something physical and permanent to carry their memory with us forever. My friends and I decided to get memorial tattoos, whenever we see the tattoo we can always remember them and the impact they had on us. Dealing with such loss in such a short period of time has encouraged me to work harder toward my goals while appreciating what and who I have around me because I’ve learned they won’t always be there forever.
Learning to balance life with integrity, maturity and dedication has been a learning experience. I believe you never stop evolving and moving forward toward the goals which you set for yourself. The path you plan isn’t always the path you take but learning to make the best out of the victories and defeats is what makes you a better person, friend, son and hopefully one day soldier.