At ELHS, where most seniors are preoccupied with college application and countdowns to graduation, senior Leah
Taylor walks the halls with a different focus – one shaped by discipline, service, and nearly five years of growing up in uniform.
“The [police cadet] program has been around since I was young. The head advisor, Sergeant Mark Hallbauer, has known me since I was
a little kid, and I saw the cadets doing volunteer work and I wanted to join since then. As for the military, I’ve always wanted to serve my community on a large scale, and the military had the most opportunities for that,” Taylor said.
What started as childhood admiration turned into a calling: “I realized it was really meant for me after my first year of being a cadet. I completely fell in love with the first responding, and I knew I wanted to do something in that field,” Taylor said.
Now, as a Cadet Chief, Taylor shoulders the kind of responsibility most teens never encounter. Her leadership style – hands-on, involved, and rooted in patience – has evolved since she first took on the role as a sophomore.
“I try to be as involved in the program as possible and try to teach them the same values. I’ve gained my confidence in my knowledge, and have gained more experiences in how to lead,” Taylor said.
Some moments stand out more than others. For cadets, it’s the annual Turkey Drive.
“It’s really impressive to see people from the community get so much food for Care and Share and the Waterford food bank. It shows how humanity is still around,” Taylor said.
The path hasn’t always been easy. Physically, Taylor had to adapt quickly.
“The part that challenged me most physically was being a lot smaller than everyone else. During basic [training] I was nicknamed immediately by the Drill Sargent ‘tiny Taylor’ or ‘mighty mouse,’” Taylor said.
And for the military, her memory goes to basic training.
“During boot camp, the late night talks I would have with my best friend there, Armiger, helped me gain a support system so soon,” Taylor said.
Balancing military life with high school is its own adjustment.
“I graduated basic [training] August 29 and came to school September 2, so I was still used to being told what to do for every single part of my day,” Taylor said.
For the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Taylor keeps it simple: “You don’t have to be like me and join cadets or join the army. Just learn what you can do to make someone’s life a little easier within your community.”
