How the Military Influenced My Life

1968 Words4 Pages

How the Military Influenced My Life

To really understand the significance of how the military shaped me into the person I am today, I must first reveal some insight into the person I was before I left for basic training. When I graduated high school in 1985 I was indestructibly ready to take on anything that came my way. I had led a somewhat sheltered life in that my parents provided a warm loving environment for my siblings and myself. Yes we experienced the normal trials and tribulations as any other kid, but we really had no negative or significant emotional events growing up that directly affected our development. Rather it was the lack of these incidents that gave us a naive outlook on life and all the responsibilities it entails. This Cognitive development prior to my experiences in the military left me with a positive outlook on life and its possibilities yet, wholly unprepared for life in its reality.

As I stated earlier, when I graduated from High school, I didn’t have a care in the world. My biggest worry was where I wanted to play baseball, and where I was going out that weekend. I was given a car for graduation as well as a credit card for gas. After graduation I received a baseball scholarship and didn’t have to worry about how to pay for school. This along with other things that I had taken for granted led me to believe that the whole world was peachy with nothing negative that would affect me. The only trauma in my life was if a certain girl didn’t want to go out with me. This to me was a significant emotional event. Not only was I naive, I was somewhat jaded as well. I believe this was a result of the environment that I grew up in as a child. I moved to a different part of the country every two years from...

... middle of paper ...

...scientific terms and diagnosis to be politically correct or I can just be honest. I think it was a combination of natural Cognitive Development as a child. I am a product of my environment, parent, mentors, and peers. I received my Ethological Development from these sources as well. These merely laid the foundation for the person I was to become. Had these people not been present in my life, whether I agreed with them or not. I don’t think I would have been as receptive what I learned in the military. It was my experience in the military and having an open mind that proved to be the catalyst or trigger to my being the person that I am. I consider myself still growing and learning until I take my last breath. If any one person says that they know everything or are complacent in there existence, they obviously have no understanding of themselves or the “big picture”.

Show More
Related

  • Comparison Essay: Military Life Vs. Civilian Life

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    On the other hand, the military lifestyle carries much more responsibility than the civilian lifestyle. There is always the threat of heading into a combat zone and having to risk your life. You have to be on time to work, there are no "I got stuck in traffic" excuses. You must always be well-groomed, and live up to the working and presentation standards of your specific military branch. You never have the option of saying "no" or just quitting

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: How Depression Changed My Life

    469 Words  | 1 Pages

    As a young adult in high school I was given a lot of responsibility along with peer pressure to exceed my family’s principles. The first day of high school as a freshman, was overwhelming, stressful, and full of anxiety. I felt as if I had no one to count on including my family and friends. Felt alone most of the time and didn’t unspoke about problems that began to bother me emotionally, physically, and mentally. My problems arose freshman through sophomore year. I reached a point where I could no longer keep this a secret.

    Read More

  • My Tales from U.S. Army Airborne Jump School

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.

    Read More

  • Children's Development Of A Military Child

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the parent’s perspective, the military has much to offer for a child’s development. There are many opportunities children born in a military family get to experience that is beneficial to their development. The military lifestyle promotes the opportunity to be more culturally diverse, socially strong, and mature level of positive characteristics can help develop a child.

    Read More

  • Why I Became An Officer

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    At a young age I knew I wanted to be just like my father (who is now a retired Chief in the United States Navy and has served 27 years.) My dad constantly tells me to this day make sure you take care of the ones you work with because their welfare is what really matters. Although you might have to yell at them every once in a while, you can never forget that they will always count on you for everything. You never want them to be scared of you where they cannot talk to you, but where they know the limit that they can talk to you about anything and when work needs to get done it will get done. Growing up my dad always took care of his sailors whether if hes throwing them a BBQ or having them come over for a home cooked meal. I understood very early that the military isnt about just ...

    Read More

  • The Turning Points of Life

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    Growing up was not easy in my house; it was not the picture perfect life, actually far from it. Over the years, I became the caretaker versus the child; often left to fend for myself and my brothers, I muddled through many of life’s lessons with no guidance. Following graduation, although I was accepted into college, I was told I would be unable to attend due to financial difficulties. Very soon after this news, I broke up with my high school boyfriend of almost four years. I spent the next two years being a very different person. I started smoking, drinking, staying out until all hours, and was genuinely depressed. That all changed the day my brother had a house party.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My Experience In The Military

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to

    Read More

  • How I Overcame Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    It had come to the attention of my family that I had some sort of psychological problem and something had to be done. I was always labeled as a shy and quiet kid, and like my family I had thought nothing more of my behavior. However, now it had become something more obvious. I had told my parents the kinds of problems I was having. Basically I didn't want to talk to anyone or to be anywhere near anyone I didn't know. I didn't really want to leave my house for any reason for fear that I might have to talk to someone. I was so critical and scrutinizing in relation to myself that I couldn't even enter into a conversation. Everyone seems to have a part of themselves that lends itself to thoughts of pessimism and failure, but mine was something that was in the forefront of my mind at all times. Something telling me that everything I did was a failure, and that anything I ever did would not succeed. Through discussion with my family it was decided that I should move out of my parents house to a place where I could find treatment and get a job. I was to reside with my sister Lisa, her partner Brynn, and their Saint Bernard in Greensboro.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My Experience in the Air Force

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

    Read More

  • Transition from Childhood to Adulthood

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    My parents sensed my troubles and we moved. Adjusting to a new high school took time. It was not easy making new friends and I continued to be lost. These incidents weighed heavily on my mind. My anguished heart refused to see beyond my own woes. A recent disturbing incident changed my purview of life.

    Read More

  • Army Life: A Challenging, Life Changing Experience

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Army life can be very challenging and a life changing experience. It was very challenging and life changing for me. I was raised by my Grandparents they did everything for me so this was a wakeup call for me on life. An independent person was not I, so I had problems with the changes about to come. Army life is constantly demanding and constantly changing without notice. Although the travel was exciting, army life for me was very challenging because I had to learn to adapt to a new system, to share my life with other soldiers, and to give up many of the comforts of home.

    Read More

  • My Perfect Life

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    I thought I was too resilient and independent to ever miss my home, my parents, my sisters, my dogs, and even my boring little hometown. I thought I would come to college and immediately find new best friends, and get so involved on campus, and spend every weekend giggling my drunken way back to my dorm with friends. Like every other major event in life, I expected college to be like a happy movie. I was very wrong. Trying to start my life from scratch at Wofford meant that I was pushed 500 hundred miles out of my comfort zone, and had to face my insecurities without the support of my friends and family. My pillow was tear stained from all the late nights in my dorm comparing myself to all the girls whose glittering smiles plastered my Instagram feed. I thought everything would be easy, but life in its spiteful manner proved me

    Read More

  • Service Before Self

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    The day I finally signed up to join the military I knew I was taking a risk in my life. I believe it is important to take risks in life to move into bigger and better things. My first huge decision I made in my life was to join the United States Air Force. My uncle was the main person who put the idea in my head but my dad and my friends thought otherwise. My parents were divorced when I was young and I didn’t have the privilege like my friends to sit down and talk their decisions through with their parents. My father was excluded from the draft after he got in a car accident and I didn’t think he was very fond me joining the service. The main reason I chose to go into the military was make the decision to serve the country. The major decision in my opinion to join the military is to have the privilege to serve your own country. I think it is great for young men and woman to have ambition to serve and it can change a person into very motivated individual. My uncle and my mother were both very supportive and thought that it would be a great decision in my life. My mother knew it would be hard to see me go but was excited of the idea of coming to visit me in Texas. I knew it was taking a big risk being on my own but I was ready for a change in my life.

    Read More

  • My Role In Life

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    That was the “the drop of water that spilled the glass” that made me change my perspective of life, I had to accept the fact that now I had to be the strength in my family because my mother didn’t have the strength she used to have. At the age of 10, I became the pillar that kept my family strong to continue and overcome obstacles. I had so numerous emotions, but I didn’t want to talk about them because I knew my mother and sister would fall again, until 9th grade. During 9th grade, I had countless emotions going on that I couldn’t keep my life together, so we decided to send me to a psychologist. But all the opinions the Psychologist told me I already knew, so I decide to modificate my attitude and the decisions I took, and I also decided that I was going to be as positive as positive. Since I chose that decision I began to improve my grades and I felt more confident about myself. I could control my emotions, I also learned to take more accurate decisions and people around me noticed it and started coming to me for advice or to talk to me about their problems and eventually I became a support for my friends. During all these life changing situations, I kept playing tennis and eventually I could feel an improvement in my game, I accomplished more difficult goals and I started to impress others and myself with my performance. In 2013, I moved

    Read More

  • Personal Reflection Essay: My Experiences In Life

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    MY EXPERIENCES IN LIFE Throughout my life has been a constant struggle in the pursuit of happiness. It 's nearly a decade now since my dad lost his job. The world seems to be out of reach for I and my nine siblings. The news came at a time while I was in high school, and my siblings were in primary school. My heart was filled with sadness for such unbelievable downfall. I couldn 't concentrate any more on my studies in fear of answering the questions that remained on over what would become of our future? Whenever I recall my classmates talking about taking challenging courses at the university, It still can bring me to tears to this very day. I was like a homeless wanderer. Not only did my studies worry me, but my stepmother 's mistreatment

    Read More

More about How the Military Influenced My Life

Open Document