Inland Empire Student to attend Summer Leadership Academy in Washington D.C.

CORONA, CA, UNITED STATES

05.30.2018

Story by Sgt. Erik Brooks 

12th Marine Corps District

CORONA, CA – There is a sense of confidence around Ian. This is evident whenever he opens his mouth. He chooses his words carefully but yet unscripted. If there was one word to describe Ian Corral it would be Grit. His tenacity to overcome obstacles and strive in life is above his peers. He has an unyielding courage in the face of hardship.
These are some of the many reasons Ian Corral was chosen to attend the Marine Corps Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy in Washington D.C. in July.
The goal of SLCDA is to return students back to their communities more confident, selfless and better equipped to improve the lives of those around them.
Ian was born in Anaheim and moved to Corona in the 3rd grade. He is not only a leader in the community but also at home. He grew up with five siblings. With 4 younger sisters he has served as a role model in their lives. Any free time he has, he is helping his parents take care of them as his dad is a firefighter and is gone a lot. To help them even more, he got his driving license just to be able to drive them to school and back.
As a football player on one of the best teams in California, Ian devotes a lot of time training and practicing in the hot year-round California sun. Despite this commitment, he still maintains a 4.2 grade point average landing him in the 10% of his class. His commitment to being a better person doesn’t stop there.
His teachers view him as a leader in the classroom as well. He is often called upon to help mentor and tutor other students. Ian’s generosity continues further. He also spends him time volunteering at his church, building houses for Habitat for Humanity and helps promote autism awareness.
Ian became interested in the program through his dad who is also looking to help better his life. Ian wants to use his experiences learned at the academy to help him stand out amongst his peers. The most interesting thing to him about the program is the leadership qualities it brings. He already considers himself a leader but wants to use the program to enhance his ability to lead and help him for the rest of his life.
Ian wants to continue to push himself outside his comfort zone and challenge himself to grow even more, to guide him even further and make him the best person he can to be. This Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy, is a perfect way and very special opportunity to further develop who he is as a productive citizen in our great country and leader in the community.
His expectations going in are the Marines will be tough on him, this is the military after all. He hopes to get the most of this program. He wants to take whatever is taught and use it in his life.
At this moment, Ian is a pillar in his school. But these things just don’t come to him. He works very hard to be where he is. Whatever he does, he does it to the full extent. His work get him to where he is and to where he is going. He is the definition of True Grit.

• Date Taken: 05.30.2018
• Date Posted: 05.30.2018 15:18
• Story ID: 278875
• Location: CORONA, CA, US
• Hometown: CORONA, CA, US