YOUNGSTOWN — When Yelian Seda first joined East High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program, she was so shy she struggled to speak up in class. Today, the 17-year-old senior stands tall as the battalion commander, leading 120 cadets with a confidence she never imagined possible.

“The support they gave me, it changed everything,” Seda said. “You learn to lead by example. You’re part of something bigger than yourself.”

Her story is not unique.

At East High, a Youngstown public school, the JROTC program has become a transformative force for students navigating adolescence in a community grappling with socio-economic challenges.

Over the past year, the program’s cadets have earned top honors in statewide competitions, organized record-breaking blood drives and embarked on educational trips to historic sites like Washington, D.C. But for many students, the most profound victories are personal: overcoming self-doubt, finding purpose and redefining what it means to belong.

Retired Lt. Col. Joseph P. Alessi, the senior Army instructor who has led East’s JROTC since 2007, works alongside retired Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Wolford.

Alessi said that the program is not a military recruitment tool. He explained it was funded by Congress and rooted in leadership development; its mission is to “motivate young people to become better citizens.”

“Out there, it’s ‘you’re black, you’re Hispanic, you’re from this neighborhood,'” Alessi said. “Here, we’re all ‘Team Blue.’ It doesn’t matter who you are outside. You’re a cadet first.”

The cadet creed is drilled into the group’s heads as it’s recited daily. It reads, “I am loyal, patriotic. … I will not lie, cheat, or steal. I will be accountable for my actions. I dedicate myself to citizenship, leadership and service.”

For Kevon Gastell Johnson, 17, those words became his lifeline.

As a freshman, he admits he was a “troubled kid” with little interest in school. For a brief moment, Alessi explained that Johnson quit JROTC, and he returned at the urging of another student. Now a junior and a company commander, he balances coursework with mentoring younger cadets.

“Before, I didn’t care about grades or anything. JROTC taught me discipline,” Johnson said. “Now I want to join the Army Reserve, then go into the medical field. I want to help people.”

The program’s structure mirrors military ranks, with students ascending from cadet privates to commanders. Classes mix freshmen with seniors, something Alessi said fosters mentorship and accountability. Uniform inspections, drill practices, and academic challenges are woven into daily routines.

Jensen Delgado, 16, joined as a freshman with little direction. Today, the junior captain credits JROTC with sparking his ambition to study physical therapy.

“I had sports injuries, and the therapists helped me recover. Now I want to do that for others,” he said.

For Destiny Jordan, 17, the program dismantled self-imposed limits.

“I used to think, ‘I’m from the inner city, can I really be more?’ JROTC showed me I can,” said Jordan, now a personnel officer. “We’re taught to educate ourselves, not just react. That mindset changed how I see everything.”

The group participates yearly in extracurricular achievements that reflect the program’s values. The cadets’ November blood drive collected over 20 pints — including critical O+ donations for sickle cell patients — and the group recently took a trip to Washington, D.C.

East’s JROTC has dominated statewide drill meets, most recently placing second overall at the McKinley Drill Meet in March. Its varsity drill team earned rare praise from judges.

But competitions are just one measure of success.

Joshua Melendez, a 16-year-old sophomore, found his niche as the battalion’s public affairs lead, managing social media and photography. Outside JROTC, he runs a video-editing business — a venture he credits to the confidence gained in class.

“I used to be the quietest. Now I’m pushing myself to create content and lead,” Melendez said.

Alessi, a 30-year Army veteran, stresses that the program accepts all students, regardless of academic or physical ability.

“We’ve had cadets with Tourette’s, ADHD, you name it. They rise because their peers lift them,” he said.

The cadets’ camaraderie extends beyond the classroom. When one student skipped choir class recently, peers quickly tracked her down.

“They take pride in holding each other accountable,” Alessi said.

That accountability is tested during trips like the D.C. excursion, where students navigated tight schedules and historical lessons.

“They walked 12 miles a day, never complained,” Alessi recalled. “Hotel staff kept saying, ‘Your kids are so respectful.'”

For Seda, the trip underscored JROTC’s lessons on citizenship.

“Seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, it hits you how much sacrifice goes into freedom,” she said.

As the school year ends, seniors like Seda are preparing for life beyond East High. She plans to join the National Guard while studying at Youngstown State University. Others, like Johnson and Delgado, use military service to land careers in health care.

Alessi hopes the program’s impact lingers.

“We’re not just teaching them to march. We’re teaching them to think, lead, and care,” he said. Until then, the group continues to march forward, one disciplined step at a time.