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Jordan Fusco, a junior at Hazelwood West High School, spent a week in Washington, D.C. meeting new people, visiting historic landmarks and learning about the intensity of decision-making when it comes to national security.

Fusco attended a recent session of the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) on National Security, a “unique career development program” that introduces students “to the challenging careers in national security, intelligence, the diplomatic corps and more.”

He took part in an experience last month that came to him as a bit of a surprise. Fusco received a letter to inform him that he was nominated to participate, but he is unsure of how it came about. After his family decided it was a good opportunity for him, he talked to his cousin, who had been to the forum a year before, and asked a lot of questions.

“I realized how big it is to go,” Fusco said. “My mom is proud of my nomination. It shows that passing classes and getting good grades can pay off in different ways.”

To prepare for the trip, he studied a information sent by the NYLF. “It was a giant overview of what we needed to do to get ready,” he said, and it included a schedule of what to expect for session topics, workshops and more. He also had to watch and read the news.

Working with professionals, the forum conducts simulations that place students “in the driver’s seat of building a strategy that will uphold national security.” Fusco shared a simulation where he took on the role of a U.S. Pacific commander. He described it as working together to come up with ideas for situations dealing with other countries.

“I learned that national security is a very stressful job. I would not want to become a politician. Even during simulations, I was getting stressed,” said Fusco.

He spoke about a meeting and a career fair he attended with military representatives from the Pentagon. The session confirmed his interest in his future. After high school, he plans to attend St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley through the Missouri A+ Schools Program and then go to Sparta College in Tulsa, OK to study aeronautics. He would like a career in aircraft maintenance or engine repair in the Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard.

Visiting the Pentagon and the International Spy Museum were highlights for Fusco. He said the Pentagon was “very strict” and the museum was “a lot of fun.”

(story provided by Hazelwood District Communications Dept.)

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