Life of a Military Brat

Life has many complications and being a military child I had to experience many complications early in life, like having to constantly watch a parent leave for long periods of time, moving every three to four years and having to leave friends and family behind, or being forced to adjust to new and unfamiliar surroundings are just some examples of the complications that I had to go through as a military child. Though having a parent in the military comes with a lot of difficulties the military has taught me many important life lessons, like cultural awareness, how valuable relationships can be , how to be self- reliant when a parent leaves, or how to adjust to new surroundings. The military has taught me a lot from a young age, but the biggest impact the military has had on my life was teaching me hospitality and having a sense community.

My most recent move was to Vicenza, Italy, after living in our previous station for almost six years, it was hard to adjust to a new place, especially a new country. I had to once again remember how to survive in a new place, I had to start a new school, make new friends and learn about a different culture. It took me a while to feel comfortable, but it was quicker than I originally thought. The kids at my new school were all like me, military kids who went through the same thing I did, everyone was so nice and tried their best to make me comfortable. They all knew what it was like to be a new student. We live in a small military community and everyone looks out for each other, no matter what.

Being part of a small, military community makes me want to continue to part of a small community when I leave home and start college. I plan to go to a small college, major in dentistry and hopefully start my own clinic. Though being a military dependent comes with many challenges, the lessons that I learn through the military are lessons I can take with me throughout life.