KAPAA — A 2014 Kapaa High School graduate is moving up the military ranks after completing college in Colorado.
Marissa Goo of Kapaa earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial organizational psychology at Colorado State University’s College of Natural Sciences spring commencement ceremony on May 12 in Fort Collins.
“Going to college and all the experience I’ve had has been very humbling and rewarding,” Goo said.
During the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps commissioning ceremony the day before graduation, Goo was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
“In the Air Force I’ll be in personnel, which is human resources and administration, so my degree is really applicable in that sense,” she said.
Goo worked toward her goal by serving in the Junior ROTC at Kapaa High School for three years.
“During my junior and senior year, I got really interested in joining the Air Force and being part of the military,” she said. “I knew in high school I wanted to make a difference in this world and do something really hands-on to make a direct impact.”
The 21-year-old will be stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
“I just want to see where life ends up taking me,” she said. “If I love it, I’m going to stay in.”
Goo is the daughter of Roland and Lynette Goo of Kapaa. Her one big message to the young people is to work hard and achieve their greatest dreams.
“If you have that passion and drive to go and leave where you’re from and see something different, experience new people and cultures and ways of doing things, then go for it,” she said.
