An experience that I have had that will influence my academic work and goals at Colorado Christian University is my transition from military life to civilian life. When I joined the Air Force I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school, and without much life experience. I joined the Air Force so that one day I would be able to pay for a college education and so that I could experience the world more than I was able to do in my small town of Gladewater, Texas. The Air Force taught me so much about myself and really shaped me in to the person I am today. I deployed twice overseas while I was in the Air Force and less than a year before my first deployment my daughter Kenzie was born. Leaving her for that first deployment was the hardest thing …show more content…
The weeks leading up to my discharge were not as stressful as I thought they would be. I had a job lined up and things seemed to be flowing smoothly, but what happened after I started trying to get adjusted to civilian life was something I never expected and was certainly not prepared for. After I was discharged I moved from Texas, where I was stationed, to Maryland for a job. I had been stationed in Maryland before so the move was not all that nerve-wracking, in fact, I was really excited about it. Before long though, I started going through really intense bouts of anxiety and depression and I could not figure out why. I got a job making more money than I was making in the Air Force, I had friends around, from an outside perspective I was doing really well for myself and providing a good life for my daughter, but inside I was miserable. I decided to start going to a Christian counselor and I began talking to her about the feelings I had. Through a lot of talking and soul searching I realized that I had built up most of my self-esteem and my identity around being in the Air
While I wish finding my way around the school was my only problem, I was faced with some internal challenges. As the school year started, my friends slowly started to leave to these “big shot” colleges or simply move away to other community colleges. I, too, wanted the complete “college experience” somewhere in Arizona or across the country; yet I felt stuck and unaccomplished. I also felt jealousy which could have been because I did not get to decorate my dorm room.While talking about dedicating hard work to your education, Gina Rodriguez said “Just remember, during those times of fear and doubt, that you are right now discovering your true strength.” And in those times of doubt, I reminded myself why I could not just move and leave everything behind. The root of my challenges and concerns are my family. As I enrolled as a full time student, my family was fighting some financial problems which created marriage troubles for my parents. I could not leave at a time like this. I knew it was not the first time my parents were talking divorce but somehow I knew it was best to stay. I got financial aid from the school which saved me the fuss of asking my parents for money. It really meant so much to not put another worry on their
College has a extensive impact on a person that some people simply don’t realize. When I first started college, I was a little close-minded and unsure about what it was I wanted to do with the rest of my life. When I was halfway through my freshman year, I decided to completely change my path in life. I left ECU, moved into an apartment, transferred to Pitt and declared my major intended sonography. Then suddenly I hated what I was doing, I had to take a step back and truly evaluate my life and what it was I was meant to do. I was completely lost. Then one day I received a text from a friend telling me to apply to a hospital located in Chesapeake, Virginia. I did, and I got the job. When I told my parents they were less than thrilled, they didn’t like the idea of me taking a year off from school to work, but I thought long and hard about what was best for me and decided it was something I was meant to do, it was the path I needed to follow. I worked for a year while living at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. I was completely independent, providing for myself 100 percent. While working this job, I realized that what I wanted to do and what I was called to do in life was become a nurse, which is something I would have never figured out had I not seriously weighed my options
For as long as I can remember, I have always viewed life as an adventure. Sometimes this adventure is extraordinarily fulfilling and fun, while other times it can be a lot harder to keep trekking on. This outlook has shaped my life to what it is today, and it impacts the decisions I make now that will affect my future. When I began the college search, I really didn’t know what I was looking for. When I found George Fox University, I knew instantly that this was the place I could grow into the person I dreamed of being. By attending George Fox University, I hope to discover my faith, develop skills necessary to succeed and learn more about myself and the world, as well as contribute my diverse upbringing, leadership and strong values to the
Earlier in March 2014 the senior leadership of the Air Force, to include the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, made a statement to all airmen. They stated that “being an Airman is more than a job, when we voluntarily raised our right hands and took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, we became members of the profession of arms”, they also said that along with our profession of arms we are given and accept a sacred trust given to us by the American people, that to be worthy of this trust we must “build our lives and shape our service on the foundation of our core values”, and that when Airmen fail to live up to our core values, the reputation of all who serve is tarnished” (letter to airman, Mar 2014). Recently, I was tasked to deliver a briefing for the J3 monthly training day. This tasking was a result of my negligence in updating a certain system that is vital to the J3 watch floor. My briefing, although filled with correct information and guidance, was also slaked with profanity and unprofessional gestures. Regardless of any circumstances that may have been the cause for these actions, the actions needed correction. Correction was given, which was responded to by more profanity and provoking actions. After I showed such disrespect to my non-commissioned officer in charge, he escorted me to my supervisor and my actions were made known to him. During this time I was still acting very contentious and disrespectful, making snide comments and standing with such contempt as if to say “are you done now”. This of course escalated into more serious action by my leadership which very well could have been avoided had I done my duty correctly in the first place. The...
I grew up in a christian family and I'm the middle of five siblings. I was homeschooled up till 3rd grade. In 4th grade a transfer to public school. I stayed in public school until halfway through my 7th grade year when I decided I wanted to be homeschooled until high school. I choose to come to Wheaton Academy because I wanted to experiencing something new. My high school years have been definitely worth the hard work and have been very rewarding. I love the level of freedom and trust the students at WA are given. A very significant experience for during my years at Wheaton Academy happened in March of my sophomore year when I decised I was interested in a future career in the military. This was a significant event for me because making this
I have been given an awesome privilege to be able to call Hope College my home for the last four years. The memories I have had here will last a lifetime. From the friends I have developed with professors, students, to Phelps and Cook employees. I can honestly say that there has not been a bad experience with any of these people. It’s been awesome here at Hope! This experience has taught me many different life lessons and helped mold the legacy in which I feel I will leave behind when I am done. The legacy I want to leave behind entails one of respect, and hard working. I will tie all of these together will explicit examples from here at Hope and will end with how I plan to finish up on a positive note.
I interned a cardiologist where I got to see the life of a physician as he went about his daily routine. I achieved getting my Certified Nursing Assistant license after assisting patients at a nursing home. I became a camp counselor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where I took care of a 10-year-old child during a summer camp. Through these experiences, I gained confidence in my character and purposefulness. Furthermore, I went on a mission trip to Kenya where I experienced life in a third world country. It was here where my eyes were opened to see a world that is in dire need of help. These people are malnourished, living in detrimental conditions without accessible health care. The experiences I had in Kenya reminded me to never take anything for granted. My engagement acting on all these opportunities fueled my perseverance to pursue my career in health
Moving out, meeting new people, enjoying the atmosphere you live in, challenging yourself, and getting the best education possible for yourself. That is what I am currently doing at Furman University; however, the road to arrive here was long and challenging. Naturally, my father was concerned about the cost of college, not Furman in particular, but college in general. Both my mother and I knew college wasn’t going to be cheap, especially for the experience I wanted. I was tasked with selling my father on the concept that college was going to be expensive, but it will all be worth it in the end because I will be getting the best education for myself and I will get the experience that I want.
Another influential incident in my life is going to FCHS. Going to FCHS also caused me to lose some of my friends. Even though I lost those friends, I made many friends who are really nice. I also learned alot about who my real friends are.
With the increase of student veterans entering college communities, the transition process may prove to be difficult. “Leaving the military and enrolling in college can certainly be considered a significant life transition, as veterans move from a highly structured military environment to contexts lacking clear rules or chains of command” (Gilbert & Griffin, 2015). During this time, student veterans are navigating through unfamiliar territory within a college campus, but while reassessing their identity. Student veterans may experience feeling disconnected to their college community. Beyond transitioning from the military into an environment that is unfamiliar, student veterans must cope with having to merge their past to their present. Furthermore, this is a trying time for many student veterans particular due to the rising issues of mental health issues and service-related physical disabilities.
My decision to enroll in college has been one that I have been pondering for the last three decades. During my last year of high school, I met a friend who was surprised that was not planning on enrolling at the local community college. As I've matured and joined the United States Marine Corps, I had an opportunity to start my college journey. Surprisingly, that was in 1978. From 1978 to 2009 my journey took me to my midpoint and I received my Associates Degree. The thrill of receiving that Associates degree motivated me to start on my undergraduate journey. There were several reasons why I decided to start this journey in addition to the thrill and it ranges from making new friends, preparing for new career, learn new skills, and most importantly to increase my knowledge. That is why I decided to enroll at American Military University in pursuit of my undergraduate degree in Emergency Management (EM) and Preparedness.
College was the biggest influence in my life, so many things transpired. For some reason, I was free there, free to be whomever, I wanted, since no one knew me. I could change from being the introvert around others, so that I would not be judged. It was in college, that I began finding what did or didn’t work for me. I was embraced by friendships that boosted my confidence and provided reassurance. I finally began to find my identity and I was excited about it. Maybe, two years after graduation, I began subbing as a middle school math teacher. It was then that I found my true passion in life,
Throughout my life there has been many events that have shaped the way I am. The one event that had the greatest impact and has been constant is my military career. Since I joined the military I have changed roles, conformed to new norms, and learned new values. Like most service members the parts that shape your military career is the beginning, so as a focus I will look at my basic training, technical school and first duty station which these three combined events in my life has shaped the last 14 years. Through these phases in my life I have learned a lot about the military society, society in the United States, the world and of course me.
One of the biggest “life changers” I have ever experienced is college. You get to experience a whole new atmosphere, meet tons of new people, and you get to live a new life. Going into college, most of the time, kids are nervous and scared for what their future. I was one of those students. Going into college I was quite nervous and I didn’t know what to expect. Often, I would hear how difficult college is and how much different it is than high school. I was not prepared to constantly be studying or doing homework because I was not used to doing those things in high school. I wasn’t too fond of being away from my home and my family as well, which is another reason I was skeptical about going off to college. From move in day to now, college has been such a pleasant surprise for me and I am loving it. My college writing course, General Studies Writing, or GSW, has also helped me learn quite a bit, but it could also be improved to help students learn even more than before. Overall, my college experience has been a great one and I couldn’t ask for a better start to a new life.
Everyone has their own experience as a student but mine was quite a different experience that was filled with achievements, unbelievable moments and great surprises throughout. My experience being as a student has taught me so many things that I don’t think I was capable enough of learning and ever imagined off. All of this experiences that I have been through being as a student has disclose and revealed my true colors, both which are good and bad and as a outcome it has established many aspects and personalities of my character. This experience has set me to go off to college, where new experiences will finalize all the touches that I need before I venture out to the real world. My experience hasn’t been the easiest, and it definitely had