Here I am, 31 years after making one of the most pivotal decisions in my life, thanking God for so many wonderful experiences. I will forever be an Airman.
Prior to joining the Air Force, I wanted nothing to do with the military. My stepdad was in the Army so I spent most of my childhood surrounded by soldiers and military dependents. I knew what military life entailed and had no desire to be apart of it. Then…I changed my mind.
I had come to a point in my life where I had to decide if I was going to sink or swim. Yeah…I was drowning. I was 18 years old (just a baby), going to college, living at home, still being treated as a child/second mom (I was my siblings second mother), and yearning for freedom. My first boyfriend, who was seven years older, was going through his own issues and cheating left and right. Y’all, I had to get away!
So, one day in April 1992, I turned to the yellow pages of a phone book and found an Air Force recruiter. To this day I still don’t know what made me do it. I found the recruiter, visited his office and signed up for the delayed entry program (I was still in college). I remember him saying that they usually speak with the parents too but since I was 18 and sure of my decision, he would sign me up. A couple of months later, I officially joined.
Now, all of it seems like a lifetime ago. That one decision changed the trajectory of my life. Y’all, that one blind leap made me who I am today.
Again, here I am over 30 years later smiling about that decision. I did it and I retired! Never in my wildest dreams as a kid did I imagine I would be a veteran. Never! Life is truly interesting.
To all of my fellow veterans, Happy Veterans Day! Thank you so much for your service and sacrifices.♥️
Shaun
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