Leaving a Legacy

This week, Sarah Gardner passed the reigns of group commander onto Jack Osborne, officially ending her tenure as leader of all the cadets in the Boerne area. Three of next year’s Top 4 are women — which is something the program’s never seen before — and all four of them were shaped by Gardner some way or another.

For now, she does everything she can to teach the students she leads to be so much more than just what people expect of them, as well as guide them to finding something they love the way she found ROTC and the Marines.

“In the back of my mind with everything I do in high school is what somebody told me as a freshman,” said Gardner. “She said, do everything. Try everything. Any club you have even a hint of joining? Join it. Try out for that team. Join that club. Do everything you want to do, because high school is a time that you’re allowed to make mistakes. You’re allowed to spread yourself around and find what you love to do.”