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Honor bound
By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Ramil Lim was in the seventh grade when he made up his mind that the thing he wanted to do most with his life was to serve his country. Even at that age he knew just how to go about it. "I wanted to be a military officer," Ramil said. "I wanted to be a pilot and command ships." Once he entered high school, Ramil put his plan into action. "I knew I had to do the best I could," he said. Four years later, and four months shy of entering the U.S. Naval Academy, there's little doubt that Ramil has done just that. Now in his senior year, Ramil, the 18-year-old son of Filipino immigrants, carries a 4.5 grade point average and recently was named co-valedictorian of the Class of 2003. He has received academic awards in science and English and was named the 2002 principal's nominee for Herff Jones Inc.'s Principal's Leadership Award. As a member of the JROTC he has received numerous honors and has served as the commanding officer since May 2002. His service, says Lt. Commander James V. Stauffer, has gone a long way in the program's success. "I've been in the fleet for 20 years," Stauffer said. "Frankly, I'm glad I don't have to compete against him. He never lets up. I'm sure he'll go fly and do great things -- be the commanding officer or something. He's destined for that." For four years, Ramil has been a member of the school's wrestling team, a stint, he says, that has been a great character developer. "Wrestling is a sport that takes a lot of work and preparation," he said. "I was devoted, but never that great of a wrestler; I was about average. Still, I was proud of it. It's a humbling sport. You can think you're the best, and then you find out that anyone can beat you on any given day. After four years of that I found I can do anything I put my mind to." Most recently, Ramil was named the local and state winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution's Good Citizen of the Year award as part of its essay contest. That's a feat that "has everyone terribly excited," said Elizabeth K. Thorogood, the Good Citizen chairwoman for the Pithlochaskotee DAR Chapter. "When I sent his essay in I thought, 'This boy will win the state,' " Mrs. Thorogood said. "Now I feel he could win national." But that won't happen before his picture is featured on the cover of Next Step Magazine as one of 25 Florida winners of the Super Teens Contest. There could have been more honors, said Christine Kalil, the career specialist at Ridgewood High. Kalil, who often nominates students for various awards and scholarships, said that once Ramil got notice that he had been accepted into the Naval Academy, he took his name out of the running. "He told us to let someone else have a chance." "They were monetary awards, and it just didn't feel right." Ramil said. "There are other people that need the money more than I do. I just don't want to feel greedy. My parents are well off and I'm going into the Naval Academy, so my education, my room and board will be taken care of." Ramil said he is looking forward to completing high school and the challenges that come with moving forward in his life plan to serve his country. Still, he says, "I'm not counting down the days or anything. This year's not over yet, and you can't not be focused. You can't move on till you finish the current duty." While Ramil is a quiet sort who feels uncomfortable in the spotlight, he does offer some advice for others who are trying to make their way. "There were times when I thought I wouldn't cut it for the Naval Academy. There are a lot of candidates out there, and I was fortunate to be accepted," he said. "Other people have their dreams. They know what they want to do. As long as they work for it -- try hard -- they'll reach it."
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