 You just need to get your first and last name say and spell it Heather mouse h e a t h e r M-o-s-s in your position here. I'm the job counselor at Grinken high school And I also work out of Miss Roy Ulcerine, which is a special education class And kind of work kind of like it's an aid while I'm in here, so So tell me about the first time you met Dakota. Oh The first time I met Dakota Dakota loves to tease and aggravate and He just come in and he was a very happy-go-lucky person He loved the kids in this class and whenever he would come in I Remember he just cut up with them. I mean would literally get them in the floor and get them rolling around and laughing Kind of disrupt classes at times, but it made the kids I mean they loved him He was a great leader and actually a really great role model for him, which The stories I'd heard about him I was very surprised at that because I thought oh my goodness miss right look what have you done to let him in here But he turned up be a great role model Not just for the autistic child, but for all the children in this classroom I think he'd give him a sense of confidence that they didn't have before because They weren't with the other children the regular students as much so when he was in here with them I think it gives them that confidence that you know they could do and be whatever they wanted to be Dakota became a Marine when he graduated from school here Did you talk to him about it at all before he made that decision? Oh? Yeah, I thought he was crazy. I'm like what are you doing? You know because I'm That is a major responsibility. I mean you were there to Fight and protect our country not that I doubted him in any bit because I know that Whenever he would put his mind to something he was going to do the best it could be and you know He would be the best at it, but I don't guess part of me really didn't want him to go because I was scared for him and that was four or five years or five years ago He's accomplished so much since then you know, what do you think of Dakota now? I am just a man. He's been very proud How would you describe Dakota and his personality? No, sorry. Do you need a second? Do you tissue I have tissues okay? I was just thinking the reason this upsets me Right after all this that happened My mother was very sick in the hospital You're gonna come by the school and I wasn't at work because I was at the hospital and He called me and told me that I could do this if he could get through what he's been through that I could do this but It was just a few months later. I did a blues in my mother. He didn't smear your mascara. You still look great And I had forgotten about that conversation to you ask me that and I remember Him coming by and telling them why I was that and so he called And how did that make you feel? I was so proud of him, and you know He's done so much with his life and We tried to encourage him the best we could but you know, I Think they have to have that in their heart that you know to Truly become the person that he has become He's just grown so much, and I think he's had to grow up a lot faster than most of us have I know I'm just What kind of example and this will be the last question Unless I think of another one But what kind of example do you think he set for other students here at the school or legacy? I think you said a great example. I mean he's shown that even the Student that may not be the top student that excels the student that may not be the perfect student here still can You know lead a life that it's gonna make their family and their schools and their country proud of him and you know just strong leadership skills and willingness to just Go the extra mile. I think he said a great example You know a lot of the students that don't even know him to just know that he was here You know they are very proud You know an honor to just be at the same school that he went to to know that you know how you back you can do it You know maybe I came to anything else you want to say about Dakota. I'm just very proud of him anybody else any other questions was sort of a was sort of a Reaction because they're among the teaching staff and you answered with her But sort of reaction was sort of buzz or chatter, you know, is there in the school about amongst the teachers I'll have to say amongst the faculty and staff at our school They are all just overwhelmed that you know this student that was so rambunctious and You know who loved to cut up not necessarily the trouble he got into was bad But Dakota liked attention, you know, and he liked to do what you know made others live They are just amazed and I think so surprised, you know, this is Dakota. This is our Dakota, you know, and he's This is where he's at now and you know, they're all so proud of him. You know, we're all proud of him and That's all I really hear is, you know, wow, that's Dakota, you know They're just honored to know him and to be a part of his life as well