Jaimie Rodriguez was eager to begin serving her country as soon as she graduated high school. However, there was one road block in the way: her weight.
“In like elementary, middle school, then going to high school, I would see military and I thought they were so amazing, I felt like that was going to be me one day,” said Jaimie now 19.Inside, she would have a heart-to-heart conversation about how to achieve her dream.
Sotello explained the benefits of military service, what to expect, but also broke the news, Jaimie would have to lose weight to meet their requirements.“He’s like yeah, you need to lose weight, these are all the things about the army you should know so I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Let's go run, let's start, and that day I’m like he’s not serious,” said Jaimie with a smile.
Sure enough, she did show up. Every single morning before school Sotello and the high school senior would run up North Mountain together just as the sun began to rise. “It was like four in the morning every day. I set multiple alarms to make sure I got up,” said Jaimie. “I would run in the morning. Work out at the gym in the evening and jump rope in my room before bed.”