Personal Narrative Of My Non-Military Folks My Life

Keitel.Session1.Journal Growing up as a military child and living all over the world, I was afforded many

Most people can relate the word “home” to one area where they grew up and made memories. Unlike most people, I called many places home. Growing up in a military family was an arduous task which had great impacts, both positive and negative, on my life. It shaped me into the person I am today. A person with a laundry list of flaws and imperfections, yet has learned to love herself.

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

Margarita Kulko Personal narrative I went pre-med before getting deployed and as an intern I've seen a lot of horrible things. But when it's your friend... Someone you serve with... It stays with you forever.

If there was anything more terrifying to a shy, introverted, teenage girl than the idea of being a in crowded room full of strangers, it would to be actually in one. Yet, there I was, surrounded by a numerous amount of impatient, jet-black cars that illuminated the dark streets, rows of musicians rehearsing their piece by playing a dissonance of sounds, and the expectant, motley crowd of people lining up on the sidewalk for the veteran’s parade.

With no vision or plan to enter the civilian life and no idea what to do with my life, I still had severe scars of the year in Iraq. There wasn’t a priority or a drive, but however, I did have some responsibility I had a wife and three children.

I originally wanted to join the military to defend and protect our country, but realized that it wasn't going to bring the satisfaction I desired. I wanted to fight and defend closer to home, the one that involves Traffic incidents, Drug and DUI enforcement. One Friday afternoon, after getting

The year was 2007 and my brother Eric had just returned home from deployment to Iraq and the mood was ecstatic around the house. My dad was welling up with tears, finally being able to see his oldest child returning home from service. Mom was also very happy as well, repeatedly fondling over Eric as soon as he entered the house. Eric and I had always been close, even though there was a decent age gap between us of 15 years. We talked for hours about what his time was like in Iraq and in the military; he seemed open to talking about it even though he witnessed some fairly nightmarish experiences. Eventually I got the bright idea to challenge him to a wrestling match on the lawn even though he had 120 pounds on me. He tried to talk me out of

Going into Country Manor I thought that many of the residents there would be happy and excited to see us and play games with and the staff would be helpful. While at Country Manor I mostly played games and delivered mail with residents. The first few times I went I played games like Jenga, dice, and crazy 8’s. I played with individual residents, groups of people, and with some of the kids from Kids Country. Many of the residents I played with really enjoyed the games and the social interaction with new people. One gentleman I played Crazy 8’s with was a Vietnam War veteran who enjoyed hunting. My dad is a veteran and my grandpa is a Vietnam War Veteran so we talked a lot about Vietnam. We also talked about hunting and fishing and shared many

It was November 2004, a bitter cold breeze filled the air. I was a 17 year old Army recruit, ambitious and hopeful as I stood in formation in front of the reception battalion at Fort Leonard wood awaiting transport. I had some ideas about how my next 8 weeks would go, but nothing compared to the next 24 hours. I watched as the transport trailer, which looked like a cattle trailer, rounded the corner and came to a rattling stop in front of our formation. It seemed to bring with it more of a bone chilling gust of air, as if the sight and sound of the eerie trailer wasn't enough to upset your stomach. The door on the side swung open and out came a Drill Sergeant, A clean cut and intimidating man that had a certain pride in his step. I felt very

Joining the military was astonishing in very many aspects in my life and it truly molded me into who I am today. I will genuinely say that the most important people in my life are my mother and father. I am not a parent myself but I have had years to only imagine how tough parenting can be; especially when raising three stubborn boys. My mother and father are very open minded and kind hearted to everyone regardless of who they are. I will be honest here and say that I may not have been as grateful as I should have been when I was a younger kid, but that’s just life. When you are younger, everything is very simple and do not realize the little things in life. I had no other worries except for, “What’s for dinner?”. The military made me realize how much I appreciated and very much needed my loved ones. Travelling far away to Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, San Diego California and starting my very own journey was one of the toughest decisions at that time to make for myself.

I am sitting in my gymnasium, the year 2012 I am in the 3rd grade. A row of veteran’s sits across from us. They each take a turn to stand when presented. Then the whole school, including myself, turns their heads towards a projector a we watch slides of pictures from each veteran’s life. I can remember how fascinated I was by the slides. I would look at the slides as they were being explained and then look at the veteran it was about and think, “They went through that?” I could not imagine how they could go through what they did and make it through to tell their stories.

I’m a United States Navy Sailor. I’ve been blessed to partake in countless experiences that I otherwise would not have enjoyed had I not joined the Navy. I also enjoy reading and researching random subjects that I take an interest in. Needless to say, I’ve acquired a great deal of knowledge of the years, some from observation (skydiving), some from participation (Spanish cuisine), and then a little bit of both (pneumonia).

Marching onto Hilton Field in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I was overcome with pride and elation for the person I had become and the country I had chosen to serve. Watching my Battalion Commander congratulate the newest American Soldiers, who had just endured the most rigorous 10 weeks of training someone could volunteer to go through. At this moment, I reflected back on my transformation from a civilian to a soldier. 11 weeks prior, I had just completed my junior year of high school. I was a normal student athlete. I always worked hard both on the field, and in the classroom, but I never significantly stuck out among my peers. On June 14, 2016, I shipped out for Army Basic Combat Training. Upon arrival, I quickly realized I was no longer

From the top of the Eiffel tower to the middle of the Louvre, to the ruins of Rome and grand European castles… All these places have something in common. Besides being cultural hotspots, they are all places I truly felt alive. These hotspots are magnets for diversity. People from all walks of life go, not only to see but to feel and experience as well.