Reversals

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Recommended: Importance of early childhood education

Reversals

"Youth is wasted on the young." And "if I only knew then what I

know now!" In my teen years I couldn't be bothered with trying to

understand those cryptic phrases; didn't I already know everything I

needed to know? I never dreamed that the decisions I made in my

relatively youthful years would have such an impact on my future. I

always felt that I would never look back upon my life and say "I wish I

had taken more time in considering my choices." But I have found myself

doing just that. If I were able to rewrite history, I would pick a

different career when I reenlisted in the Army, I would seek out

opportunities to enhance my future job options, and finally, I would

have done better while in high school.

To begin with, it's understandable that I wouldn't know what I was

getting into when I first enlisted into the Army. But when the time

came for me to reenlist, I knew to research my options better than what

I really did. Instead of choosing a new career in the Medic Corps like

I knew I should, I elected to keep the same job. Given a second

chance, I would choose to be an

X-ray Specialist. After I graduated my class, I would take the Florida

State certification exam so I could become licensed to work in Florida;

by the time I completed my second enlistment, I would have developed

very marketable job experience.

Secondly, I would have gone to college more while I was in the

service. As I've just begun the long walk toward my goal of a Bachelors

Degree in Criminal Justice, I can't help but kick myself for not

starting sooner. The military pays for seventy-five percent of a

college course; after paying my tuition last term, I realized just what

a great deal that really was. I also would have taken all the medical

correspondence courses that the Army offers. While the courses aren't

of much practical use, the points earned for the completion of each

course helps greatly when trying to get promoted to Sargent. Instead of

just coasting, waiting for opportunity to come knocking, I would go out

and tackle that elusive rascal by the ankles.

Finally, if I could do it again, I would do better in high school.

As a teenager, I was tired of school; I felt I already knew everything I

needed to know to carry with my life.

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