They say people from all walks of life join the military. When I was enlisted, we shared our life stories and several were similar to mine. You don’t hear the same origin stories in the wardroom. For Women’s History Month, I wanted to share my story in hopes of encouraging someone in need. I hope my story shows that you can leave behind your past and make a great life for yourself if you desire. The military can help you; the Navy is a great equalizer and offers many opportunities to enhance your life so long as you choose to seek them out and take advantage of them. For any of you who need to hear this, I am proof that you can be accepted to a commissioning program with a GED.

I grew up in lower Alabama with a father who was a drug addict and a mother who was an alcoholic with mental health issues. To say my family had nothing is an understatement; my sister and I went without food, water, electricity, jackets in the winter, and frequently without a place to live. We alternated between homelessness, couch surfing, and Section 8 housing. The life we lived didn’t teach me stability or normalcy. At the age of 14, I dropped out of school and frequently hung out with the wrong crowd. My friend group was made up of others like me – young people from broken homes who were used to seeing and doing terrible things. This life made me feel like I had nothing to lose, and that my circumstances were unchangeable- it left me angry.

 When I was 16/17 my friend group was torn apart after a few friends were charged with capital murder. I won’t get into the specifics, but I still remember the day I found out. I was in shock and complete disbelief. I went to visit one of my friends in jail and he was broken. In turn, it broke me. I realized that I didn’t want that life. At the time, I didn’t know how to change or even start identifying ways to create a different life for myself.

The only job I’d ever had was court-mandated and I was fired in the first two weeks for throwing soda in a customer’s face.

 I had no life skills – unless you count the time a judge made me scrub the courthouse steps with a toothbrush. To this day, I’m not sure how that translates to relevant work experience. Perhaps it uniquely prepared me to clean out padeyes on the flight deck.

Regardless, I knew I needed to get my GED and a job. So, I moved back in with my mother and went through a state program to get my GED.  After receiving it, I applied to work at a nursing home. I walked to work for a year while saving up to buy my first car. After I bought my car, I saved up and rented my own apartment. I wanted to make more money, legally, so I enrolled at the local community college. I worked hard and was eventually accepted into their nursing program. At this point in my life, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Reality quickly set in and I realized that trying to pay for college and work full time was not an easy task. I was working 16-hour shifts, five days a week and going to school the other two days. This led to complete burnout. I started skipping classes and missing work, causing my life to fall apart again. I felt like I was spiraling and was exhausted from trying so hard.  While contemplating my life, I walked past a storefront that had a poster that read, “Navy, Accelerate your life”. It felt serendipitous. I’d never considered the military before. As I’m standing there, out walks AE2 Hill, our local character/Navy recruiter. He gave me a practice ASVAB on the spot and convinced me to join as an AECF (ET/FC) recruit. Two weeks later I was in Great Lakes, regretting my decision. All jokes aside, It shouldn’t be snowing sideways in May, Alabama weather did not prepare me.

Throughout my time in the Navy, I’ve learned and grown more than I thought was possible. The Navy has taught me what it means to be part of a community, part of a family, and what it means to be valued and cared for. I’ve learned what real friendships are and made meaningful, lifelong connections. I’ve learned how to communicate, follow, and lead.

I’ve traveled to places the young me could never have imagined. I’ve met people from all walks of life and I’ve become more thoughtful and considerate of other’s beliefs, thoughts, and feelings.

I’ve learned how to be an assertive woman, from some of the strongest and most inspirational female leaders that I have been blessed to serve alongside.

The Navy has paid for all 3 of my degrees. I went from being a high school dropout to graduating top of my class with a Master’s in Computer Science. 

Most importantly, The Navy led me to my best friend, my husband, and after a couple of stork visits, both of my children as well. I can’t begin to imagine a life without any of them.

I’m not sure where my life would have ended up if I hadn’t wandered past the recruiting center and met AE2 Hill, but I don’t think it would be nearly as enriched as it is today.

I’m so thankful for the life skills I’ve learned along the way. Thankful for having the opportunity to serve with some of the finest Americans alive, and most of all I’m thankful for all of the women who came before me. Those women pushed the boundaries and broke the glass ceiling, making it possible for a young woman like me to not only join but completely turn my life around and have a successful career in the Navy.