June 16th, 2015, the day my life changed forever. My mom tried to hide the tears in her eyes as she told me how proud I make her. It was the last time I would see my mom and sister again until August 27, 2015. In front of our apartment was the government car and standing beside it, two soldiers. I kissed my mom’s cheek one more time, threw my back pack on my shoulder, hopped into the waiting car and headed to the airport.
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I was nervous but this was meant to be. I had never flown before. I boarded the plane and sent my mom a text. ‘Getting on the plane now, I love you’.
I arrived and called my mom to let her know I was okay and that I loved her. We wouldn’t be able to talk to each other for a long time.
The bus pulled into Fort Benning and my life as a soldier began! It was intense; there was yelling, there were other recruits that were so nervous they urinated on themselves. I was excited for this. I knew it would be difficult but I was ready. My mom sent me letters everyday and many with photos.
On this unique summer trip at basic training, I was given a firearm which I named ‘Bonnie’ after my mom. This firearm had to be strong, it had to be my protector. There was no doubt I would name it after my mom who has been strong and my protector through all of the obstacles in our life. During this trip, I slept in a fox hole with my firearm, I threw grenades, I made friends, I became physically and mentally stronger than I ever thought I could be.
August 27th, It was time to go home! I filled the two military duffle bags that I received and in them was a shirt for my sister that said ‘My Brother is in the US Army’. The one thing that I was bringing home that I wouldn’t fit in duffle bags was the sense of pride in my country, pride in our military and pride in myself.
As I boarded the plane a gentleman in First Class stood up and said, “Soldier, you can have my seat”. I politely declined and sat in my seat in coach. While headed to baggage claim, strangers were shaking my hand and thanking me for my service. I didn’t go to war so I felt like the attention was not warranted; however, I felt so proud to be an American Soldier. ‘Welcome home soldier’, one woman said to me as I walked down the stairs. I was home!
At the bottom of the escaltor stood my mom wearing a home made shirt that said ‘Army Mom’, she cried as she hugged me tight.
This trip is not the average summer trip. It was not a trip taken for enjoyment; it was a trip taken for reasons beyond explanation. A trip that felt so right from the first day until the last. I have goals, discipline, respect and strong sense of pride. I will continue this trip throughout the year, reporting for drills at the local military base monthly. After I graduate I will be heading back to Fort Benning for more training. In addition to being a soldier, I am excited for college next year and embracing another trip and challenges of the unknown while pushing myself to be my best. That’s the only way I know, the way the Army trained me and the way my mom taught me to be.
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