When I enlisted in the Army, I felt like I had answered my calling and was destined to do great things throughout my career and around the world. I was going to follow in my dad’s footsteps; and make my mom proud because her baby girl joined the military to better herself. I also wanted to make sure that my college education was not going to be anything my parents should have to worry about paying for. Although, I never pictured myself in college nor did I ever imagine being where I am today. I thought that if I made a 20 year career out of the Army, I would be able to retire without ever needing a fancy degree. Boy was I wrong!
Starting out as lower enlisted, I felt that life was as easy or as hard as you made it out to be. Just do as you’re told and don’t get yelled at, then go home to unwind at the end of the day. As I progressed through my time in service and made the rank of Specialist, I realized that I really wanted to be a leader to guide other lower enlisted soldiers; in hopes to shield them from some of the struggles I had endured. I also learned that a college education helps with promotion points and is even required for some ranks. By the time I decided to get serious about pursuing a degree, I was deployed in Iraq. I kept my mind busy by planning out goals during my free time. On my list of goals was to start knocking out some basics to a General Studies degree until I figured out what I really wanted a degree in.
Being that I was a Mental Health Specialist with an impressive list of experience amongst the different echelons in my field, I felt that nursing was what I should pursue. Obtaining a bachelors and becoming a Registered Nurse would be some qualifications to become an officer. I had multiple pages of how and when I would accomplish this goal. It wasn’t until we redeployed from Iraq that things went a different direction. I was constantly in pain from my knee and back injuries and could not get certain unwanted memories out of my head. I was becoming my biggest problem on a downward spiral, and was only able to focus on trying to get through another day.
After serving a little over four years, my time in the Army was coming to an end. I had no idea what I was going to do next. Being from a small country town, I moved to Dallas to be closer to my in-laws and to find opportunity in the big city. I immediately went into the workforce without giving any thought to school. Everyone I knew kept telling me to go to college and get an education. I kept saying “How can I be a nurse when I’m a patient myself? I’m not good enough anymore.” After a year of working and quickly learning that this world is not as veteran friendly as I thought, I got the help I needed and made the move to try again at pursuing my degree. I did start to pursue a degree in Nursing but after two years, I felt that I was burnt out and was not as passionate about the field anymore. Anyone can learn to patch wounds and save lives. I felt the call to go back to what I knew, Mental Health. It takes a special person to be able to help someone mentally.
Once I decided to go back to pursuing a future in Mental Health, I decided to change my degree to Criminal Justice. I completed my Associate in Science at Brookhaven College and transferred to The University of North Texas at Dallas to finish up my undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. I want this to be my foundation in hopes to become a licensed Counselor. Like I mentioned, it takes a special person to help someone mentally. I feel that I can be the positive difference that I want to see in the world. If I can help someone who has been misguided or just needs mental health stability to change their lives for the better then that in itself is a success. An impact on one person can impact society and future generations.
My training and experience in the Army definitely gave me the tools and wisdom that I needed to get help and to better myself. It also taught me to toughen up and get up when I get knocked off course. Everything happens for a reason, granted I could go without the injuries; but my injuries are a huge part of being who I am today and how I got to be where I am now.
