Nate, 18
Future: I want to go to the University of Washington or Gonzaga and join the ROTC program. Afterwards I want to join the Army as an officer.
After turning 18, Nate made his way from North Carolina to Seattle. Nate has limited family connections in the area and no one who could take him in. As a result, he bounced around from shelter to shelter without purpose and hope. “My uncle actually found Eastside Academy,” he said, and he enrolled in the spring of 2022. “When I first got to EA, it was really different. I mean, I was really nervous and didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “It took me awhile to feel comfortable. I’d always been bullied in school in the past. But at EA, it’s different. I feel like at EA I can really be myself.”
Nate has had a lot of challenges in his life, many of which led him to drop out of high school while still in North Carolina. This has put him behind most students. “It’s a little strange being older than everyone and yet only being a junior,” he said. But Nate is working hard to do the work and finish strong. Drew Hale, our Director of Student Services and Chaplain said,“ Nate has been very intentional with his work since he started at EA. He’s always early to school, attends every program, and he never misses a day. ”Which is quite impressive considering Nate utilizes public transit from his place in Seattle and then his skateboard the rest of the way. “I’ve only been riding my long board for a few months, ”Nate said, “but it really helps cut down how long it takes me to get here.”
Nate has been thinking a lot about his future, especially now that he’s entering his junior year. “I’m thinking about college and the Army once I graduate,” he said. “I’d really like to do the ROTC program at UW or Gonzaga so that I can be an officer. ”Nate wants to make the Army his career.
Nate is asking that you’d pray for him to have a good year, focus, and that he would continue to grow as a person.
