April 04, 2025 --- West High School senior Verchiel Arellano realized early on, after two stints at fast-food restaurants, that food service was not for him.
Then, in February 2024, Arellano met with a U.S. Army recruiter at the Ohio National Guard. Everything he heard appealed to him.
“When he came to me and told me I could save lives and earn a scholarship, I said that was something different that I wanted to do,” Arellano said.
That day, he signed up, and on June 11, 2024, he departed for basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for 10 weeks.
That training ensured Arellano met his 120-hour internship graduation requirement for Columbus City Schools (CCS). Basic training allowed him to surpass the requirement with 1,600 internship hours so far.
Arellano earned every one of those hours at what he calls “very hot” Fort Jackson while residing in living quarters with 60 others. He studied heavily in case he was unexpectedly quizzed. He learned gun marksmanship and even trained in the gas chamber.
Being 17 years old at the time, Arellano repeatedly noted that having peers his own age, whom he refers to as “Stern, Smith, Hickox and Mendoza” or “my guys,” made it easier. All 17 years old and all at Fort Jackson, they formed a bond that continues to this day.
“In basic training, we were all supporting each other,” Arellano said.
Camaraderie, discipline, and maturity are traits Arellano embodied at the end of his training. Upon returning to West, Arellano’s teachers applauded him for his leadership and dedication to his work. Emily Doll, Arellano’s marketing teacher, considers him a role model for her other students. She credits his discipline, in part, to his basic training.
“I teach a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and Verch is one of my seniors,” Doll said. “To have somebody who is so responsible and always getting his work done and participating in class, I think the other students model themselves off of him.”
Another example of his determination, Arellano joined Junior Army ROTC when he returned to West to earn a higher rank. Master Sgt. Michael Buschur, the class instructor, immediately recognized the impact of basic training on Arellano.
From day one, Arellano took the initiative in class, keeping his uniform pristine and advising his classmates on properly wearing it. He also helped his peers by teaching them how to march.
“He’s the type of individual that can get it done,” Buschur said. “If he decides that he’s going to be a sergeant major in the Army, it would not surprise me if one day he is a sergeant major.”
Arellano is setting his sights on graduating, attending job training, and enrolling at The Ohio State University. He aims to major in political science, economics, and philosophy to become a lawyer one day.
Arellano’s journey from fast-food jobs to military training has been one of transformation, discipline, and leadership. His experience at Fort Jackson not only fulfilled his graduation requirements but also instilled in him a strong sense of camaraderie and perseverance. Returning to West High School, he became a role model for his peers, demonstrating the value of hard work and commitment. CCS applauds Arellano for his adaptability and displaying traits of the CCS Portrait of a Graduate.
