A senior at the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in New London officially devoted himself to serving the country Monday.
Senior Andre McClain, better known as A.J., signed his national letter of intent to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School.
McClain’s aunt served the Navy for 22 years and was an inspiration to him. He also took a summer seminar at the Naval Academy and realized how rewarding the work was.
So McClain worked hard to get there. He said he upped his SAT scored by more than 300 points, traveled from Plainfield to attend a STEM school to make himself more competitive and even lost about 50 pounds to get in shape for the Navy.
“You’re guaranteed a job. They take care of you the rest of your life,” McClain said. “I’m thinking about do what you gotta do now so you can enjoy your future.”
McClain credited his dad for pushing him.
“It’s going to open a lot of doors,” said father Andre McClain. “I think it means security for him and his future family.
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who nominated McClain to attend the Naval Academy, was on hand Monday to congratulate him. Blumenthal said signing a national letter of intent for a military academy should be celebrated the same way acceptances to college athletic programs are.
