The struggle between figuring out what your next years will look like after high school can be tough to decide. However, senior Kiah Morgner made her decision before the start of senior year.

Morgner will be spending at least the next four years after high school serving her country in the Marines. 

“I want to serve my country and be a part of something bigger than myself,” she said.

Morgner said it wasn’t exactly an easy decision to decide which branch of the military to join. 

“I have family in the military but they’re all in the Air Force and I kind of wanted to do something different and the Marine Corps motto is ‘The Few The Proud’ and I wanted to be a part of that,” Morgner said. 

Morgner said she wants to either do artillery or infantry (03 or 08) but she does want to take online classes and major in business.

Morgner’s friends and teachers said they believe she will be successful. 

“She seems very focused on it and she’s putting all her energy into it,” Morgner’s friend, senior Ava McCulla said. 

McCulla says she’s always felt like Morgner wanted to do something in the military field. 

“We’ve been friends since 6th grade and she told me last year but she’s always briefly mentioned it and she would go up to those Army tables at lunch,” she said. 

 Morgner’s English teacher from her freshman year, Anton Ruiz, also shared his thoughts on Morgner’s decision. 

“My overall thoughts on Kiah going into the Marines is this: it is a great opportunity for her. I believe and hope this will develop her character. My initial reaction was a little shocked but not in a bad way. It was like someone telling me they were going to climb Mount Everest,” Ruiz said. 

Morgner’s ship date is May 19, 2025. 

“My boot camp is in San Diego but I won’t know for sure where I’ll be stationed until after boot camp,” she said.