Future of the Lake: Justyce Hart

   Until Justyce Hart moved to Greenville with her family at eight years old, she spent her childhood on military bases. Her dad, Joe, went straight from his high school graduation to basic training, spending many years in the Army as a Scout before retiring. Just days after our interview on the front porch of her family home, Justyce is following in Dad’s boot steps and leaving for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

   Though she says she’s more excited than nervous, Justyce also says she’s never been away from home for more than two weeks before. I tell her it’s going to be fine, and I fully believe it, though trying to remember what I felt like when I left for college feels like I may as well be trying to remember a past life.

    Justyce, however, is a very special young woman and, in my opinion, epitomizes the spirit of Future of the Lake. That’s how I know she’ll be just fine, even if I can’t relate to her remarkability!

   At just 18 years old, Justyce has accomplished more than many ever will. Some of that undoubtedly has to do with her parents, Joe and Amber. “During school mom and dad always said we had to do at least one school activity for the year. That’s what made me start [sports],” she says. Things changed, though, when she found Key Club.

   “That really struck my interest because…I really want to do something for this community,” Justyce said. She has loved working with Key Club and Kiwanis because she says “It makes you more active both in the school and in the community itself.” Justyce especially remembers helping Chieftan Heights residents with lawn care, running errands, and taking them grocery shopping if they had no means of transport. Justyce’s Key Club even raised funds to build a well in South Africa in conjunction with The Thirst Project.

   Along with being inducted into the National Honor Society and being Valedictorian of her class, Justyce made the most of her high school career by completing TCTC’s Criminal Justice Program her Junior and Senior year, earning the distinction of Captain of her law enforcement class her Senior year.

   Though Justyce’s family was rooted in military service, it wasn’t until she attended Dirigo State’s Leadership Program through the American Legion that Justyce herself seriously considering a career in the military. The National Guard was there talking about the benefits of service. Justyce loved the balance the Guard offered, saying “I can help people and serve my country but also go to school and do civilian stuff.”

   Justyce joined the Army National Guard September 3 of 2025. On Sunday, August 2, she will have left for basic training. In stark contrast to the two weeks she’s spent away from home in the past, Justyce is about to embark on a 20-week journey: 10 weeks of Basic Training followed by 10 weeks for AIT, or Advanced Individual Training.

   After that, she’ll come back to Bangor and start her career as a Military Police Officer for the local Guard. When her deferment year ends in the Fall of 2027, she plans on attending college at UMaine for Criminology.

   As for what the future holds, it’s anyone’s guess! If Justyce has accomplished this much at just 18 years old, there’s no doubt the sky is the limit for this bright, polite, kind and driven young woman, and we’re especially lucky because Justyce doesn’t plan on forgetting her roots. She says even if she doesn’t end up in law enforcement, “I want to stay in public service because I really want to help people.” Specifically, Justyce hopes she can continue to work with our local Kiwanis group.

   “I just want to do something that’s going to better our community and our state…so even if I live somewhere else, since I grew up here, I want to help our Moosehead Lake Region.”  

   Her parents, Joe and Amber, say, “As her parents we understood she wanted to sacrifice and give up to be able to help others. Sometimes that meant not doing family vacations or missing out on certain activities that she wanted to, to be able to help the community with whatever it needed.

   We spent countless nights staying up late to help her with homework or planning a school project. She did a lot of planning and fundraising (over $3,000 for one bake sale) to be able to go to New York with her history class to see the 9/11 Museum and other important places. She helped plan a trip to Boston with her class as well. To say that we are proud of the things she has accomplished or will accomplish is an understatement!”

   The Moosehead Lakeshore Journal seconds that! In a world that too often views younger generations as unmotivated or even lazy, Justyce stands out, and that’s exactly what this column is meant to celebrate. It’s worth noting, as well, our small community has more than its fair share of exceptional young people. From where we stand, the Future of the Lake looks bright. Join us in wishing Justyce well on this latest journey, and please reach out if you’d like to nominate a young person in our community to be the Future of the Lake!