Senior joins Marines to protect liberty, `do something extreme’
In this time of uncertainty, the possibility of war looms over America, blazing from television sets and newspaper headlines. Adolescence is usually a time for fun and carefree childhood joys, yet young men and women are stepping up daily to the summons of the American military. One of these young people is student of the month and Marine recruit Cassandra Baker.
Baker is a senior from Silt. She is the daughter of Jim and Tereasa Baker.
Her family also includes stepmom Sandy Baker, and her mom’s boyfriend Lonnie Sandoval. She has two brothers, James and Ben Baker, and one sister, Eva Baker. She also has two stepbrothers, Peter and Luke Wampler.
“Freedom!” her favorite movie quote (“Braveheart”) epitomizes her passion for liberty. Her love for this value is exemplified in her willingness to serve her country.
Baker enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2002 and leaves for boot camp in South Carolina this July. Her older brother, James Baker, also enlisted at the same time, but she said that the Marines was her idea first.
“I want to do something extreme with my life,” Baker said about her enlistment in the Marines. “I don’t want to be satisfied with average.”
Her ardent patriotism is exemplified in her favorite RHS moment, which was when she gave her “What It Means to be an American” speech at last RHS’s Veterans Day Assembly last November.
“I liked it because I never thought that I could ever do anything like that in front of the whole school,” she says. “It was a good experience for me.”
Baker also takes her faith seriously, and her favorite song is “Shine” by Newsboys, a Christian band.
“It is a song about Christians letting their light shine so brightly that other people wonder why our lives are so full of joy and they want to get in on it,” she said.
Once Baker sets a goal, whether it be for her faith, for school or for personal achievement, she accomplishes it. She says if she were to receive an award, it would be for dedication.
Some of this dedication is shown as she manages the Varsity Girls Basketball team.
Her dedication also reaches into her diligence in academics. This year, she is taking two Advanced Placement classes, English and biology. Many students would take advantage of a snow day to escape school for a day, but Baker would rather “stay home and do homework.”
Her life is not wholly consumed by work, however. She loves “being back in the mountains away from civilization,” whether it be hiking, camping or any other outdoor activity.
Even as a child, she was not satisfied with conformity, but she found new ways to have fun. Her favorite childhood toy was a broomstick.
“It can be used as a sword, a bat, a pole vault, a fishing pole or whatever you want,” she said.
Her shout out to her friends and family is, “the most important thing is love.”
Baker is a senior from Silt. She is the daughter of Jim and Tereasa Baker.
Her family also includes stepmom Sandy Baker, and her mom’s boyfriend Lonnie Sandoval. She has two brothers, James and Ben Baker, and one sister, Eva Baker. She also has two stepbrothers, Peter and Luke Wampler.
“Freedom!” her favorite movie quote (“Braveheart”) epitomizes her passion for liberty. Her love for this value is exemplified in her willingness to serve her country.
Baker enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2002 and leaves for boot camp in South Carolina this July. Her older brother, James Baker, also enlisted at the same time, but she said that the Marines was her idea first.
“I want to do something extreme with my life,” Baker said about her enlistment in the Marines. “I don’t want to be satisfied with average.”
Her ardent patriotism is exemplified in her favorite RHS moment, which was when she gave her “What It Means to be an American” speech at last RHS’s Veterans Day Assembly last November.
“I liked it because I never thought that I could ever do anything like that in front of the whole school,” she says. “It was a good experience for me.”
Baker also takes her faith seriously, and her favorite song is “Shine” by Newsboys, a Christian band.
“It is a song about Christians letting their light shine so brightly that other people wonder why our lives are so full of joy and they want to get in on it,” she said.
Once Baker sets a goal, whether it be for her faith, for school or for personal achievement, she accomplishes it. She says if she were to receive an award, it would be for dedication.
Some of this dedication is shown as she manages the Varsity Girls Basketball team.
Her dedication also reaches into her diligence in academics. This year, she is taking two Advanced Placement classes, English and biology. Many students would take advantage of a snow day to escape school for a day, but Baker would rather “stay home and do homework.”
Her life is not wholly consumed by work, however. She loves “being back in the mountains away from civilization,” whether it be hiking, camping or any other outdoor activity.
Even as a child, she was not satisfied with conformity, but she found new ways to have fun. Her favorite childhood toy was a broomstick.
“It can be used as a sword, a bat, a pole vault, a fishing pole or whatever you want,” she said.
Her shout out to her friends and family is, “the most important thing is love.”
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