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.
HONORABLE MENTION 2015 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
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.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “Left Boston a Teenager; Came Back a Soldier”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
ok it was funny not like a formal article
Very informative blog.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Wow, great article.Thanks Again. Great.
I’m extremely pleased to find this web site. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every part of it and I have you saved to fav to check out new stuff in your website.
Really interesting post!
Thanks for sharing the article with the information we are actually looking for.
Well, I tend to be a very critical person with a critical bent of mind who always comments on others post emphasizing on the missed-out points. However, your writer seems to have done a great job as there’s nothing much that I can think of saying. It is an amazing write-up that is extremely useful for your concerned target audience. I’m definitely going to share this on Twitter.
Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, thanks.
Great info. Lucky me I found your blog by chance (stumbleupon).
I have bookmarked it for later!
Some truly great posts on this site, regards for contribution.
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thank you
Rent a professional limousine service in Dubai with safety equipments
I believe you have observed some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
I pay a visit everyday some sites and websites to read content,
but this website gives quality based articles.
very useful topic
And very important
This is great,
I hope to do something like this
very useful topic
And very important
Please Fwd to author:
Your wallet has been found at IC Ranger station JTNP
Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content.
Please let me know. Thank you
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find
It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offer
one thing back and aid others such as you helped me.
Excuse for that I interfere … To me this situation is familiar. Let’s discuss. Write here or in PM.
This excellent phrase is necessary just by the way
I join. It was and with me. We can communicate on this theme. Here or in PM.
So many amazing selections! I wasn’t familiar with many of them. We just did Grapevine last week, which never disappoints. Christmas capital of Texas. ??????
Is it alright to reference some of this on my page if I include a backlink to
this site?
Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the best I have discovered so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain about the source?
Thank you for your post.Really thank you! Cool.
wonderful blog !! love reading your post.
Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to tears at
work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I love the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great site!
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this web page, because i wish for enjoyment, for the reason that this this
site conations genuinely pleasant funny material too.
Eco-therapy or nature therapy, sometimes comprehensively called family-centred nature therapy or outdoor therapy entails using the environment of nature and its various elements to become involved in the autism therapy process for persons on the spectrum.
We love your offering these details for folks hoping to get more information about topics like this. Your blog page was well-written and well investigated, that is certainly considerably liked. I am generally seeking for new sites to follow and browse on a regular basis.
Thank you so much for sharing this blog with us. Really Informative blog.