When I was younger, I used to stand by a window to watch my dad walk up to the front door, looking handsome in his blue uniform. He walked so proudly in his Air Force uniform that he seemed to be ten feet tall. Growing up, I dreamed of following in his footsteps, joining the Air Force, and becoming a leader to those who protect the country that I have come to love so much. I wanted to go to the United States Air Force Academy. I worked as hard as I could to be accepted to the Academy that when I got in, I couldn’t help but scream. After my acceptance everything seemed to happen at once, and I left home to accomplish my dream of becoming an Air Force officer.
Like every person in the military, I started in basic training. The second I stepped off the bus and touched the ground of the place I had dreamed about for so long, someone was there correcting my every move. This wasn’t the sort of criticism I was used to; it came in the form of constant yelling: “Stop gazing! Hands cupped, thumbs at the seams of your pants!” Contrary to what you may think, it was exciting getting to experience what some of the greatest leaders of the military have gone through. However, after basic training, the way that my classmates and I were treated during the school year didn't feel right to me. I thought I would be able to handle this new regime, but life became very difficult. Thoughts of leaving during freshman year frequently came to mind, but thoughts of how I may disappoint my family seemed to be more important. I had worked so hard to follow behind my dad and I was honored to wear the Air Force uniform that he had worn so proudly before me.
After much deep consideration, I decided that the Air Force Academy and the military just weren’t for me. However, what I experienced at the Academy provided a great personal growth. Although the past year and a half has been very difficult, I wouldn’t have chosen to spend my time any other way. The challenges I overcame allowed me to learn a great deal about myself. I learned my limits, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the many experiences I’ve had at the Air Force Academy. After all, you come to appreciate your strengths and limitations the first time you jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or when you starve for eight days hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park for survival training. I have always wanted to work for the greater good, and I thought that I wanted to become an aeronautical engineer to help design and develop aircraft for our military. While I was taking required arts classes, however, I developed a passion for writing and an interest in the human psyche. I found literature and psychology fascinating – just exploring the minds of authors and the standards of societies by analyzing narratives and poetry captivated me. I have always enjoyed helping other students when they were struggling in a class I found a little easier, and I loved helping them learn the material. I realized that I wanted to become a teacher.
I wanted to make literature, poetry, and writing come alive to others the way it did for me. Integrating psychology into English, I could help explain why authors wrote about certain themes and topics. I could bring understanding of literature and poetry to students by helping them to understand the authors of the works they read and to uncover the authors’ meanings behind their stories and poems. If I could just make a difference in one student’s life, if I could teach my students to analyze and understand what they read on their own, I could consider myself a success.
