What It's Like Being Military Child To Me

Often military children have many advantages like being able to see the world. But there's also disadvantages, such as the stress of moving often for some, and having to make new friends. And for some, like me they don’t move much but their friends do, and since they don’t get a new start have to wait until someone new comes and “replaces” their old friend(s). Despite all this and so much more, all of the Military Brats I know are amazing at coping and I’m so proud of them. Some of them have many stories to tell me about their parents and I feel so honored that they’d tell me about those experiences. I’m very lucky as well because my grandfather was able to tell me of his stories in WWII and that my brother can now call me and inform me of his experience(s) in the Navy so far. This gives me another career option, and a very convenient one at that as I would go to college for free, have free housing, and get good pay. Then I’d get veterans preference to become a DoDEA teacher, as I’ve always wanted to become a teacher.

Unlike many other military children, neither of my parents are soldiers. Instead, my mom works as a DoDEA teacher. Because of this, I don't have to go through all the hardships such as deployments and moving frequently like many other military children go through. And because of this, one may say that I don't entirely understand how my peers feel, which is true. But I still understand what it feels like to be sad, or separated from my family members. When we moved to Guam I was only six years old and all I knew then was that I was likely never going to see my grandparents again. I was partially correct as I'd only get to see my grandmother in the hospital one last time, but my grandpa visited every year for Christmas! I still wish I could've spent more time with them, along with my cousins and aunts and uncles, but in the end, this is the best option. Over the years I've experienced so many wonderful and not so wonderful things I'd never really experienced before. I've gotten new additions to my family, but I've also lost a couple and I've had to say goodbye to my built-in best friend. But my big brother is now a sailor and I honestly couldn't be more proud. I know what it feels like to have my best friend in the entire world slip away, and what it feels like to sit alone every lunch for three years, waiting for someone new. I know what it feels like when that person comes. I know what it feels like to be stressed and anxious for no reason at a young age. I've laughed and cried over the years, but if someone asked me if I would change a thing I would say no. It made me weaker at first, yet in the end built me up stronger than I'd ever been before. I'm so lucky to be a military child and have every opportunity in the world be a possibility for me. I just want to thank everyone in the military, whether you're in the Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard, or Army for being so strong and enduring all the hardships that come your way. Thank you for being an inspiration for me and making my dreams possible. You're AWESOME!!!

Being a military child, I’m so lucky as I have so many opportunities handed to me. Being in my position, I don’t even need to experience deployments. And because of this, one may say that I don't entirely understand how my peers feel, which is true. But I still understand what it feels like to be sad, or separated from my family members. But like I said before, I still know what it feels like to have to push through so many hardships. I’ve felt hopeless before, I’ve felt stressed and depressed at a young age; many people that know me could tell you it’s not other people, it’s myself. I’m my own enemy. There's no reason, with my “perfect” life to feel this way. I’ve had my “actual” military peers say straight to my face that I don’t know how they feel and I shouldn’t even be allowed in a military school. But my family wasn’t always so well off and if this opportunity was taken away from us I know we’d be back in our old cockroach infested, air conditionless home in Florida, in the same neighborhood with the man who robbed us, or the family growing pot. I would still have a single mom. I wouldn’t have grandparents to see during the holidays. But I’m not here to complain. I’m actually here for the opposite reason. I’m so grateful really, that my mom was offered this job, and it has brought so many opportunities straight to my doorstep. I probably will never even have to pay student loans! In fact, if I join the military for merely three years I can go to college for free and become a DoDEA teacher! But even with these wonderful experiences coming my way, life has and will continue to throw challenges and hardships my way. I couldn’t accept it at first, but there just isn’t always going to be solely nice people out there. When I was younger I didn’t know that yet and in 5th grade, I had the toughest year of my life, all because of one comment. I’d had enough. Others had already assumed I couldn’t run a 5k because of my appearance even though I actually ran every night and generally placed 1rst, 2nd, or 3rd in my age division. But I was so done with it after that. And I shouldn’t have listened because I went on a bad path that year and wound up in the hospital. I’m much better now, but since then I’ve decided I need to be more resilient. And what I looked like, though it mattered to me and still does, should never be my number one priority. My schoolwork and happiness should always come first. So I became resolute or determined to achieve those goals. I strived to get all As, and if I got some Bs it was okay. I needed to keep pushing myself and become relentless. Ever since I made these decisions my life has never been better. I even have finally found a friend. I couldn’t be happier. I may have left childhood a little bit early mainly since my 5th grade year, but I’ve become what a real military child is supposed to be. And I don’t care what other people tell me for they don’t know me. They don’t know the things I’ve been through and I don’t know what they’ve been through. And that’s fine. But for others to assume things about me me just because of my status, how I look, or how they think I am in my own personal opinion is wrong. And saying I’m any less a military child than them is understandable (because in all honesty, I am...), but stating things like, “you’ve never experienced the feeling of missing someone you love” is a huge assumption. In a way, in my opinion that’s discrimination, which I don’t tolerate at all. Being in a family like mine, others already are very discriminative just because we’re different. I’ve seen it a hundred times, families just like mine being discriminated simply because they're different. They back it up with their religion. Religion should never be used to hate on others. Overall, being a military child I need to be resilient, resolute, and relentless especially when it comes to those situations. These things can happen to anyone, at any time and that’s why those qualities are so important, in my opinion. Everyone faces hardship, but not everyone handles it well. My advice to military children all around the world, and anyone really is to not let those hardships ruin your happiness for even a second. Be strong. You will get through it, whether your hardships are tiny, or very large. Whether they may last a day, or a year. Make the best of every second because you cannot go back in time an undo it all. There are people out there who love, value and care about you, no matter who they are, or where they come from. Whatever situation you’re in, rich or poor, whatever race, whatever religion, in the military or not, I want you to know there is hope for you and your family. The most important thing in the world is if there's someone out there who you care about and who cares about you. And to those people out there who do not accept others for whatever reason or chose not to be kind, while I don’t agree with you in any way, I know you too, are human and may be in a bad situation yourself. And for that reason, I truly do feel bad because you have yet to find a better way to handle your situation/hardships.