As a freshman in college, I was a young individual with no idea about what my future had in store. At first, I loved Bryant University – the freedom, no rules, the ability to create a new identity. That freedom ran out real quick though, and after a few months I missed my home, my family, and my friends. I was pretty homesick, but I got through it. I worked hard and got through the year the best I could, in both my academics and athletics. It was quite the challenge, not really what I expected but it was my first time away from home and out of Naugatuck were life seemed so simple and un-challenging.
Once I became accustomed to my first year of college, I went home for the summer and took on the challenge of triathlons. I was instantly hooked after my first one, and I have no one to thank but my family for getting me to try out the multi-sport lifestyle,. Much to their dismay, I am now a triathlon fanatic and my parents are a little concerned about that, but I have a strong passion for the sport. I think it has opened up doors for me that I didn’t know existed. I am more healthy now, more active, more confident, and feel that I can honestly do anything that I commit to and work for. That is when I decided I wanted to do more with my life, and I took on the challenge of enrolling into the Army ROTC Program. I realized that becoming an Army Officer is one of the most respected professions in this country, and I had a sense of confidence in myself that I can make a great Officer.
At first, I hated the program. I was so lost, and had no idea what was going on. I was timid, and didn’t feel like I had that sense of confidence that I thought I did. I went away for four weeks after my sophomore year to Fort Knox to catch up on everything that I missed in the ROTC program from my freshmen year, and I hated that all over again. I was homesick, away from my home town, family, and friends in the middle of the summer! It was brutally hot and mentally challenging because all I wanted to do was be hanging out with my family relaxing and doing triathlon. Yet I was up at 4 in the morning everyday only to get yelled at to hurry up and wait. I decided in Fort Knox that when I completed the Leadership Training Camp that I was going to give up ROTC but be proud of my accomplishments so far in the program. I didn’t want to live the Army lifestyle that I was exposed to at Fort Knox, and didn’t want to put myself through that for four years if I wasn’t going to enjoy it.
Then I got back to school however, and was offered a two year scholarship for ROTC and a chance to join the Army National Guard. In the National Guard, you serve one weekend a month and get deployed for about 12 months every three or four years. The contract would be for 6 years. So for two year long deployments and one weekend a month, I realized I can maintain a civilian job as well as be able to lead Soldiers on a part time basis. I decided, although I hated Fort Knox, it made me a stronger person, and I am thankful for that experience. Sometimes you are forced into sitatuions that make you feel uncomfortable, but that’s life. I have come to the conclusion that in life, as well as triathlons and sports and anything else, the challenge is to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. That is what leaders do, and that is why I accepted the ROTC scholarship.
Now as my junior year is coming to a close, I am preparing for another four weeks at a training camp called LDAC in Fort Lewis, Washington this summer. I know how much it is probably going to suck, but all this year I have been put through some pretty rigorous training with ROTC to prepare for it. With many 04:30 mornings throughout this year, I have managed to do that while being voted the swim team Captain for next year, and somewhat maintain my academics and GPA. My social life has taken a pretty big hit, it is almost irrelevant at the moment, but sometimes when you have things to accomplish you have to decide to take the easy way out or do things that are hard. I’ve done the hard things, and am feeling very confident in myself in terms of Army training. I think I will do very well this summer at LDAC, and maybe even enjoy it? Yeah, it is hard to imagine that based on how much I hated LTC at Fort Knox, but I have started to become pretty comfortable with the uncomfortable.
With all of this ROTC training, managing my school work and being a member of a Division I swim team, I have developed a complete transformation of a person. I feel much more mature, confident, and overall a much better person than I was three years ago when I graduated high school. I wouldn’t have been able to feel this type of personal development without such a strong supporting cast. My family has been there for me throughout the hard times, when I hated life and was miserable when I first started college swimming, when I was extremely confused and dismayed when I first started ROTC, and when I was completely miserable out at Fort Knox. They were there for me when I was a mess, and without them I wouldn’t have been able to become comfortable at being uncomfortable. They’ve seen me at my worst, and now because of that I feel like I am at my best. I am so thankful for everything that they do for me every day, and sometimes I don’t thank them enough. But inside, I know that I owe them everything. I’d be nothing without them.
From here on out, I hope to continue this trend of taking on challenges and overcoming then, no matter how hard they are and how uncomfortable they make me feel. I just want to keep becoming a stronger person in every aspect of life. I am so thankful for everything that has happened to me, and wouldn’t change a thing. Life is good, that is for sure, so say thanks every day, and get comfortable being uncomfortable.
