"I always knew that I wanted to do something in my life that would make a difference in the world," Robinson said. As he starts life in the Navy on Memorial Day weekend, he said he has a deeper appreciation for the meaning of the holiday.
"Now that I understand more about what veterans actually went through for our country, it's easier to relate to," he said.
Despite the accolades he is receiving, Robinson teasingly calls himself "the least driven person in my family."
His mother is a certified public accountant and his father is a senior manager at Northrop Grumman, and both have demanding careers, he said. His sister, Carlynne, 19, is a drama major at Northwestern University.
Also an influence in his life is his cousin, Michelle Obama, and her husband, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whom Robinson calls "incredibly smart and very charismatic."
But he acknowledged that his main drive comes from within. Not only is he determined to find a way into naval aviation, his ultimate goal is to become an astronaut.
"A transfer request is definitely hard to get," Robinson said, "but it's possible."
Neighbors
Is someone in your neighborhood worth writing about? Is there an event that everyone in Howard County should be aware of? Neighbors columnist Janene Holzberg wants to know about it. E-mail Janene at jholzberg76@msn.com, or call 410-461-4150.
