LA FERIA — He wants to right wrongs, and he hopes the U.S. Air Force Academy can help him do it.
“I have seen in our community, there have been some people that were falsely accused of stuff and I saw how bad that can ruin a person’s life,” said Emiliano Segura, a senior at La Feria High School.
Segura, 18, hopes to be a JAG officer, or military lawyer. An important step in that direction was an appointment by U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville.
“It’s exciting,” said Segura. “It’s a couple of years in the making.”
Why the Air Force Academy?
“It was a way to honor my family’s past. I’ve had a lot of military background in my family,” he said. “And also I’m able to further my education and save my parents some money.”
Emiliano participated in numerous clubs and organizations at his school, including the National Honor Society. He was a running back for the school’s football team and also played trumpet in the marching band.
“I marched during half time,” he said.
He thanked Coaches Everardo Sanchez and Eric Villagomez for keeping him strong enough for the mandatory fitness test to qualify for the academy.
Teachers also kept him mentally fit, especially in his favorite subject, history.
“I was always interested in learning more about how everything developed into what it is now,” he said. “I always had great history teachers so they made it fun learning.”
He gave a special nod to Luis Zuvieta, his world history teacher.
“He was always very explanatory in everything,” he said. “He made it relatable to the common person which was easier for me.”
U.S. History teacher Jason Crutchfield also made an impact on him.
“He was a very knowledgeable teacher and I felt every day I learned something,” Emiliano said. “He dug deeper into history than most teachers ever have with me.”
He’s number 11 in his class with a 5.2 GPA but, interestingly, he’s not big on long hours of studying.
“I always just focused during lectures,” he said. “I would just touch up on notes after class but I was never much of a studier, especially during history classes. I never wandered off the trail and it helped me.”
The Air Force may possibly be a career.
“If I get into JAG then I’ll definitely I’ll do the 20 years, even longer,” he said.
