Success in College after Military Service

Volunteer State Community College was my first choice after high school in 2008. To put it another way: I was an awkward, out-of-place kid who had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. My grades were mediocre at best, and I couldn't afford to go to school since I had no money. My future seemed bleak, like a bunch of unripe grapes on a vine. In the middle of my second semester, I dropped out and immediately found work. I worked at Candy Craze for six months before it hit me like a ton of bricks. "What are you doing with your life?" I asked myself. Get up and do something with your life," he tells her. Going into this, I was determined to live up to my reputation as a "go-getter."

Because I knew Mikey, my boyhood closest buddy, was in a similar circumstance, I dialed his number. As a result of our mutual distress, we drank ourselves to sleep on my brother's couch one night. "We're going nowhere fast Mikey," I told him as we were drinking. We must do something meaningful with the time we have left." After he nodded in agreement, I inquired about his thoughts on joining the military. When he replied no, I started to extol the virtues of my plan. We agreed to meet with an Air Force recruiter the next day and join the military that night. In the end, Mikey changed his mind, but I stuck to my guns and joined the Air Force the following week. A window of opportunity had finally opened up for me thanks to this decision.

One of the difficulties I faced in attending college was a lack of financial resources, which the military helped me overcome. The military has a program that covers not only the cost of tuition and fees, but also the cost of housing and books for service members and their dependents. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a program that sends more than two million military personnel to higher education. Additional 85,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves became eligible for benefits as a result of legislation enacted in 2010. To have been able to go to school without having to work while doing so would not have been possible without this program's financial aid. Even though the military has taught me a lot, I doubt I would have gone into it if not for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Because of the Air Force's emphasis on these three basic ideals, I've tried to conduct my life accordingly. "Integrity First" is the first. Ethical and moral ideals are the foundation of integrity. It also discusses virtues like integrity, honesty, and fortitude, as well as a sense of accountability (Toner). In college, there are times when you just don't want to do the work or you just don't study. Having a strong sense of integrity helps me get through those times. It's easy to cheat out of laziness, but the phrase "Integrity First" pops into my head whenever I find myself thinking, "I don't want to do that right now. Just ask a friend for the information you need." Secondly, I am obligated to serve my country and my fellow Airmen, and this implies that I put others before myself. Only when "tough men stand ready to inflict violence on their behalf" can "people sleep peacefully in their beds at night," according to George Orwell, an English novelist and journalist. This may not seem like something that has anything to do with school, but to me, it does. Having to dress in a certain way as a member of the Air National Guard helps me to avoid slacking off and skipping class because of my responsibilities to the Air Force. "Excellence in all we do" is the third motto. This explains why we do things the way we do. As airmen, we strive for perfection, and we don't just cover up our mistakes. We'll keep working on a project until it's flawless. Think about what would happen if an aviation mechanic were to do tasks that were just "good enough." A pilot's job would be difficult if he or she were forced to fly a plane that was only "good enough." What I'm trying to say is that if I put up the effort to achieve my best in school, I will be successful.

I had a feeling things were about to shift after reading about the military. Change will not come if we wait for another person or another period, according to President Barack Obama. We've all been waiting for you. We are the agents of our own emergence. A lack of aspiration is evident when all you care about is making money. It's not demanding enough of you. Because your true potential can only be realized when you're tied down to something greater than yourself. (“BrainyQuote”)

If I hadn't enlisted in the military, I wouldn't be where I am now, which is pointing me in the direction of success. As a result of my hard work, I am now ready to face the challenges ahead. I'm in school because of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and I have three basic values that remind me of why I'm here and why I won't fail. My military service has unquestionably and positively aided me in my college career.