University of North Georgia (UNG) student Isaiah Gadsden has always wanted to join the military.
"My dad is in the Air Force and has always taught me to work hard for my goals," said the sophomore pursuing a degree in marketing.
His mother has also supported his goal to serve his country. Gadsden plans to commission as a second lieutenant in the Georgia Army National Guard upon graduation in December 2022.
"My mom made sure I accomplished my goals in high school, so I could attend a good university and receive a full-ride scholarship," he said.
So far the 20-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, is making his parents proud. Gadsden received the UNG Military Scholarship. Each year, Georgia awards 42 of those scholarships, which pay for a student's room, meals, tuition, books, uniforms, and fees.
After joining the Corps of Cadets as a freshman, Gadsden was promoted to squad leader in spring 2020 and learned how to be a leader.
"I put my squad members' needs above my own and made sure they were given the guidance they needed to succeed," he said, adding he enjoyed the leadership responsibility. "It gave me a sense of accomplishment knowing that I helped someone better themselves."
He attributed his success to his parents as well as his friends at UNG, including his fellow cadets and members of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.
"We are always pushing each other to improve and are always there for each other when things get stressful," said Gadsden, who strives to avoid complacency and encourages others to do the same. "My advice is to make academics a priority. We attend college for a degree, and slacking off in classes may have a negative outcome."
