Living The Life of a Military Brat

Read below about my personal story of having a dad in the Army.

In 2001, my dad was stationed at an Army base in Florida, where I was born. Ever since then, I have been considered an Army Brat and had this sort of duty to my country. This association has it positive and negative side effects to it.

Because of this lifestyle, I have moved to different places including Italy, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia. Currently, I am moving to Fort Drum, New York where my father will take control over the hospital on the base. While moving, I made a lot of friends that I still talk to after I move away and will try to come and see if possible. Without making these friends, I would not know how to live nor would I have the same life experiences that I would have gotten living in one place. Such experiences would include visiting different places in the country and world, growing into my love of cheerleading, and experiencing the different cultures of the places I lived.

Though being a military brat might seem nice and lovely, it really does have some sad side effects to it. I remember one day I was playing on the playground during recess in elementary school I just started crying randomly and my dad left to go overseas that day I think. I do not remember the reason I started crying, but I believe it was due to either him leaving or that I realize that he would not be there for my birthday that year. Also, during the end of my sophomore, my family believed that my father would be stationed at Fort Gordon for the four years during my high school life; therefore, I was all signed up for my class for junior year and was already planning on doing high school cheer and all-star cheer. But one Friday my mother picked me up from school and told me that that summer we were moving to Northern Virginia and the next day was tryouts for all-star cheerleading. I just remember wanting to ball my eyes out but did not because I did not want to worry my mother about the effects that this move had on me.

Though being a part of a military family has it downs, I try to highlight on the positive things of it. Also, my life has given me a huge appreciation for those in the military, unless of branch, and really made me consider going into the military; therefore, I am planning on finishing my undergrad degree in exercise science and minor in psychology, and then pursue physical therapy school through a way in order to become a Naval PT.