Our Times
A supplement of the Los Angeles Times
SCHOOL NOTE
January 6, 2000
Concord student's hopes fly high
Jared Burris 17, a senior at Santa Monica's private Concord High School, was recently nominated by U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) to serve in the U.S. Air Force Academy.
"I am pleased to inform you that I have submitted a nomination in your name to the Unites States Air Force Academy," the congressman wrote to Burris in a Dec. 20 letter. "I was delighted to see your strong academic and extracurricular background."
As part of a required academy application process, high school hopefuls must submit an official endorsement by an elected representative at the local, state or federal level to be considered. Nominations are generally based on school records and personal essays, Waxman staffers said. Between five and 10 youths are chosen by his office each year to receive such a nomination.
The nomination brings Burris one step closer to realizing a dream.
"There are little goals that come and go in live, but {joining the Air Force} was always stuck in the back of my heart," he said. "I chose the Air Force because, unlike the Navy, there are stationary bases and you have to think about these things for later, when you have a family...You can also retire at 40, and with today's life expectancy, have another 60 years to go after that to do whatever else.
"If I get accepted, my stepmother says she still has to make sure I can take along certain provisions, like down comforters and pillows," he said. "My dad just says, 'Oh geez. Leave the boy alone.'" -- Erica Zeitlin