College Admissions Essay: How The Military Changed My Life

Late 2005 I was assigned to 2-35 Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. I re-enlisted into the Army after almost a three year break in service. On my previous enlistment, I served in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment from the 82nd Airborne Division. All the new soldiers to include myself were standing in formation waiting on the Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) to speak to us. I was the only Private First Class with a Combat Infantryman Badge, an Expert Infantryman Badge, and a combat deployment to Afghanistan.

The military is a way for individuals to help our country maintain its rights that we fought for. The person I decided to interview to write this essay was veteran, James Harris. When interviewing an individual of such, who was in the military, I was able to learn more about our country’s history. I became more aware that through the things that men similar to the man I interviewed did in the military, that they have helped improve opportunities in my community. They have allowed us continued freedom, protection of our rights that we fought for, and the advantages we receive for being a military community (Ft. Campbell).

In October 2006, I was with 1st Cavalry Division and had deployed to Iraq. It was my first deploying to a combat zone. We were a fairly new platoon under a new Platoon Sergeant and Platoon leader. The only constant was our senior scout.

Growing up in Iraq in the era between the gulf war, Iran war, and Iraq war with the United state was a challenge for me, but it was not harder challenge than all what my parents went through to keep me and my siblings safe and sound. My mother is one of the strongest people that I have came cross in my life. She was and still the best mother, teacher, and my best friend. She graduated from Al Mosul University in Iraq as a Mechanical Engineer. Being a daughter of graduated mother will always push me to complete my education and go even further to earn my master degree too.

Introduction While helping my mom set up for Veterans Day, I was in charge of meeting with the Veterans and helping them get their visitor passes into the elementary school. The turn out was great, many veterans showed up in a variety of ages. I met with the oldest veteran there and helped him get situated before the parade began. World War 2 Veteran

Military advancements make the military more

It took 250$ and good deeds to create some doctor like me. Growing up I was the kid who looked at the world with open optimistic eyes. I grew up in a small city called Dora located in Iraq, the middle of three girls. I was born in the late 90s, I have been told that I was born "at the end of the good days". That's when Iraq's political circumstances were not at peace at all, at 2003 another war broke in Iraq.

My goal going into 8th grade was to get good grades in all my classes. The summer going into 8th grade my parents began to hound me. They would tell me if i wanted to go to highschool that needed to get good grades

Throughout the course of my young life I have been faced with some adversity. The first thing that comes to my mind is when I was in eighth grade and my dad lost his job. This was very hard on all of our family has we felt bad for him. It was especially hard for me because my dad and I have a very strong relationship. When I first learned that he had lost his job I felt very bad for him

I believe in the act of paying it forward, and treating others the way you want to be treated in the midst of it. Ever since I was a little girl, I always had a heart to help anyone that I was able to. I hated seeing others down, making it seem as if I was higher than them when I had nothing. I believed that if I was in their shoes, I would want someone to help me. Seeing homeless people on the side of the streets sad, hungry, desperate for just a bite of a sandwich or even a couple dollars to get them by for the next few days, made me realize how much I want to help people who are in need.

I don’t really enjoy picking fights, or committing any acts of violence. Truthfully, if I got into any type of conflict, my lanky body would probably give up on me halfway. That’s what my wife told me after I said I was going to be joining the US armed forces. “Mark, are you an idiot? You can’t even walk without limping, how will you serve our country?!”

From the moment I was born I was considered a military brat, I was born in Hawaii at tripler hospital because my mom was in the army and stationed there, my biological father was in the marines. When my mom remarried when I was 7, she married a man who was in the Navy. Everyone thinks being a Military brat just means you know more than other people because you 've been more places and seen more things and you get a lot of stuff you want. This is not true at all. Coming from a military background means you never have stability, you are held to a higher standard than all the other kids, and sometimes it makes you want to be in the military and only focus on that.

Certainly, growing up in poverty is a strength I hold dear to my heart. Surely, it was a struggle my parents, myself, and my brothers, however, my challenging past influenced me to be a hard worker, show up to work 15 minutes early, and perform my duties so I can have a job. Lastly, growing up in this financial condition has taught me how to value life instead of personal belongings.

Throughout my childhood and adolescent years, I always had a dream of joining the military. Though it was a choice, I still did not have any inside information of what it would be like, and the requirements and specifics of the Army. It wasn't until 2005 when I decided to join the United States Army that all my concerns and questions were answered by a recruit; and I was guided through the whole process to enter and prep for the Army. If it was not for the confidences and motivation of my recruiter back in 2005, I might have not made my leap and probably would not be in this uniform today. Becoming a member of the United States Army recruiting team means having a physical and mental toughness in order to perform efficiently.

Growing up, my parents have always been really strict on me, more than they have been with my younger sisters. I never really understood why, until now two months after my fathers’ death. My fathers’ dream was always to see his three daughters graduate with a college degree. Both of my parents, especially my father always expressed to me the importance my education, for my future. He always told me to never depend on anyone, to work hard for myself and with a diploma I could achieve lots of success.