After graduation from Brewton-Parker College, my peers and I was discussing future plans as we verbalised our final goodbyes to one another. I had to attend summer school, so that I may be rewarded with my qualification (I was allow to graduate with the exception of completing a few classes). Before I left Brewton-Parker, I consulted the opinion of a few of my professors and mentor and learnt that I needed to decide what I wanted to do next. They were not going to tell me what I should do or what I should become. I was told that it was time for me to make the decision as to what 'I' wanted to do with my life.
When I returned home to Brunswick, I was still reflecting on dreams of attending university. "How could I? Who is going to pay for it"? I wanted to continue improving my skills and gain more understanding about psychology but didn’t know what I wanted to do. After one week of reflection, I decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy. My naiveté of being a 20-year-old kid is that I briefly reflected upon the educational opportunities that the military offered. This was my relief from accruing more student debt. I didn't desire to fight for my country but loved it enough 'to reap the benefits of doing a little something, like joining to gain a little something, like another qualification'. Genius I thought, foolish I became. Finally, the moment arrived when my parents asked me what I desired to do after graduation. Happily, I explained to them that I was going to join the U.S. Navy. After stating that, my dad laughed in disbelief and said, "I don't believe that". Then, he told that he didn't think my personality would fit well with military life. My mother assumed that I was "playing a joke on her”, and she laughed too and asked me once again about my real plan for the future.
In all honesty, I didn't know what to do, and went for the best option at that time, I didn't take the Graduate Record Examination for preparation of graduate school because of my fear of taking the test, so enlisting in the military appeared to be the best rational idea for achieving my goal—back to my avoidance of discomfort. After I assured my parents of my seriousness of joining, I went to see a recruiter at the local military office. Immediately, I signed papers and made preparations for taking a military test called the Army Service Vocational Aptitude Battery. After taking the ASVAB, I was given the option of picking my job due to my recruiter's attention of knowing that I had a degree. From that, I was driven to Florida to the military enlistment headquarters and I was swore to protect and serve without desertion for my country.
After being sworn in, I was told that I would be shipped out to basic training in two months. When I returned home to inform my parents of my decision and plan, both were confused and didn't understand why I haven't reflected more on it before obligating myself to something that I didn't truly understand. My parents were disappointed with me. Their disappointment was due to my rushing life and not learning the value of patience. However, both expressed their support in my decision on choosing the military to further my career goals but feared that I had make a bad choice. I was shipped off to basic training without any further thoughts of how military life would be like. After completing basic training, I was given orders of a designated duty station, and it was located in beautiful San Diego, California. From the moment I arrived in San Diego, I was anticipating the experience of my military duty. I settled into my barracks room and headed for site seeing, so that I would become more aware of my surroundings. My military station was located on 32nd street, and in it were various universities' personnel. After reviewing the literature on universities, I decided to learn more about National University. I talked to the administrator as to gain more understanding of available programs, tuition cost, location and the demands of academic workload.
When, I visited the university's campus, another administrator welcomed me to the university and provided me with a schedule that detailed information on the university and its staff. By having someone to assist me through the application process, I was accepted in the Human Behaviour program. I was happy that I finally took the appropriate steps in making a good decision in beginning graduate school. During the mornings, I worked as an administrative assistant or you may say, "Do girl" for a few commission officers. All I ever did throughout my brief military obligation was to do for other people such as making coffee, reviewing errors in documents, and typing letters. Boredom became a daily routine. By attending National University in the evenings, I was able to escape the lifestyle of trying to be a soldier. In the classroom, I was able to be among academic students. When I started courses at NU, I was 22 years old. I chose the human behaviour psychology program because I felt that it would develop my insight more as a learner of psychology and not as a therapist. I loved the lectures and how all of my professors delivered the course information. It was convenient for me to choose this program because I was able to complete my classes within a deadline and still work for the military. As for the tuition cost, well thanks to Uncle Sam, I only had to pay for my student share and my books, the military paid off the rest. All I can say is that the military has a wealth of academic opportunities; it’s a gold mine of learning; however, you first have to fulfil your obligation to them (I loved that but abhorred the military lifestyle). I was pretty stupid to think that I could get something for nothing, and I really didn’t fit in well with the lifestyle of group conformity; therefore, I decided after one year and six months that it was time for me to get out. So, I consulted with a therapist and wrote my congressman for assistance and was released from duty.