Proud Patriot
Reagan Senior Student Honors Heritage with
Military Service
By Amy Morgan
"It’s a gift to be simple, it’s a gift to be free…” read the lyrics of the music showcased in Ronald Reagan High School band’s 2025 fall marching season. Birthed during the revolutionary war, the song’s patriotic theme echoes the sentiments of senior student Isaac Joo. Isaac led the RRHS “Simple Gifts” performance as Head Drum Major, culminating his years in the program. In November the band traveled to Grand Nationals in Indiana, an elevated competition Reagan attends only once every four years. RHS advanced to the final 12 in the nation out of a field of more than 130, Isaac reported.
“It was an incredible opportunity to meet people who have passion and love for band,” he said. Isaac was responsible for conducting, starting and maintaining the show. Outside of performing, he’s the bridge between the directors and student leadership, he added. He noted two of his three band directors, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Estrada Simon, will be retiring from education this year and reflected how much their mentorship meant to him. “Those teachers influenced my life in such a way that I desire to make an impact for others,” he said.
Isaac plays clarinet and piano, and in addition to marching band is part of the Reagan symphony, wind ensemble and jazz band. There are not enough class periods in the day to accommodate that many practices, so despite the rigorous marching schedule, he routinely met with his fellow musicians after school and during lunch – learning parts and music in what’s left of his free time to be prepared to play.
Isaac will leave marching band – and football – behind for good when he attends the University of Texas in the fall, majoring in statistics and data science, but looks forward to auditioning for UT’s ensembles.
While Isaac’s high school experience seems relatively typical for a bright student —AP classes, National Honor Society officer, a class rank of 41/847, which places him in the top 5 % — he has experienced several unique circumstances, not the least living outside America for much of his childhood.
His parents came to the United States from Korea before Isaac was born. His father joined the U.S. Army, and the family joined him at postings in Korea – at Camp Humphries, where Isaac started clarinet lessons, and at Camp Walker. Isaac found himself living in the country of his parent’s birth – ethnically Korean, yet himself a first-generation American.
“Getting to experience my culture outside of my household was an eye-opening experience,” he said. He also was able to meet extended family members who had not left their home country. “I felt like my family just expanded,” he said. Travel in Korea is inexpensive and safe, Isaac added, noting it is not unusual for children to ride the trains unaccompanied – giving him a sense of freedom rarely experienced in the states. The Joo family speaks Korean at home, so living in Korea helped Isaac maintain the language, a skill he leveraged to teach Korean lessons in San Antonio.
Being a military dependent opened Isaac’s eyes to a
life of patriotic service, and he sought and earned a ROTC scholarship from the U.S. Navy, which will cover the cost of Isaac’s college tuition. He credits his father with teaching him about patriotism and serving a greater good. Isaac will eventually commission as an officer and plans a Navy career. He looks forward to
his Midshipman Indoctrination Training Intensive
this summer.
Isaac’s positioned to lead as he honors his heritage with service to his country. He is keenly aware that “it’s a gift to be free.”
