As a 18 year old senior at Cottage Grove high, who was part of the popular crowd, not much mattered except what I was supposed to wear the next day. Nearing the end of my high school career I found myself wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life. 

Not many 18 year olds have enough money to attend college let alone a PAC10 university. Although I wanted to go to college, it did not seem like an attainable goal for me. Until I joined the National Guard.

Aside from everyone telling me I wouldn't make it through the first day of Basic Training, I had my own doubts. I'd be put in a situation where I knew no one, nothing, and would have to fend for myself. I quickly came to the conclusion that my mom was right. The things in high school (drama, clothes, cliques) won't matter as soon as you graduate. 

I left a month after graduation for BCT. Suddenly I wasn't popular any more. The clothes I had didn't matter because for the next four months of my life I was going to look like everyone else. For the next four months, I was going to eat what everyone else was eating, shower where everyone else was showering, and sleep where everyone else was sleeping. These were my new friends. After a few short months, this was my new FAMILY. These were my brothers and sisters that I would be standing next to on the battlefield. After years of being afraid of being accepted in high school and afraid if people would judge me, those fears finally went away and my only fear became letting a battle buddy down. From the BCT experience, I learned what is REALLY important in life and to me, that is LDRSHIP. Loyalty. Duty. Respect. Selfless Service. Honor. Integrity. Personal Courage.

"I have become a part of an elite team called the United States ARMY." When those words first crossed my mind, I instantly knew I wanted more. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to lead. I looked into my options for furthering my career in the ARMY. ROTC seemed like the way to go. I contracted as a SMP Cadet in the fall of '09. Instantaneously, benefits started flowing in. Money from the National Guard and ROTC was helping me pay for college. The ARMY wants every soldier to succeed and meets nearly every need possible to help attain that goal. Success. I find myself in my MSIII year at U of O ROTC and couldn't picture my life heading any other direction. The people who have helped me get to where I am now, and the people that I will help get to where they want to be, is what keeps me going. We are a team. Most importantly we are a family. 

If high school taught me anything, it's to not sweat the petty stuff. If the ARMY has taught me anything, it's everything I need to make a difference:

Army Values (LDRSHIP)

The importance of family

Discipline

Lead by example

Never quit

I've learned more in my 3 years in the ARMY than I have all my years in school when it comes to being successful and having morals. To me, that's what makes the ARMY a unique family. The lessons we've all learned together make us one of the strongest teams... FAMILIES, in the world.