After I graduated high school in 2004, I was genuinely lost. I went to college because I thought that's what you're supposed to do. I paid little attention in class, received pathetically low grades, and had zero ambition to do better. I decided I needed help because this direction I was heading was leading me nowhere fast. I knew the United States Army existed, there were kids in my graduating class that had joined all different branches of the military, but I didn't have enough confidence to do something like that at 18 years old. No one in my family had served except a grandfather whom I never met. But, what did I have to lose? I walked into the US Army recruiting office at a time when soldiers were needed. It was September 2005, and the war in Iraq was in full swing. I was told I needed to lose some weight, otherwise I'd never get to raise my right hand. I began running everyday, lifting weights, swimming, hiking, biking, anything that involved movement. I lost 30 pounds in 4 months, and joined the US Army on January 12th, 2006. There was not a easy single day I spent in the military. Every day I had to push myself. Every day I struggled but persevered. Every day I taught myself where ambition and hard work can take you. I slowly grew into a responsible adult from a disinterested child. After 6 years of service, I was honorably discharged and re-enrolled in the same college where I was on academic probation from years prior. I became an EMT, and worked on an ambulance while going to school. I studied in the front seat, and wrote papers between calls. I could do CPR on a patient who overdosed on heroin then get back to the station to study for my anatomy exam the next day. There were no excuses, and I took responsibility for the direction my life was headed. I raised my GPA to 3.5 before graduating with a bachelors in nursing. There is no doubt in my mind, without the Army teaching me to never quit, I would not have achieved that goal. I've worked as a NICU nurse for the past 6 years. In that time, I've met some amazing families who continue to share photos with me of their growing babies. Babies born at 25 weeks, weighing no more than a can of Pepsi, to playing in their first T-Ball game, and I get to witness it all. Today, I am ready to go back to school, and conquer my next challenge of pursuing a masters degree in forensic nursing. I want to continue helping my community in a different aspect which has been a dream of mine since my days as an EMT. I know with determination and drive, I will see my dreams achieved. Without my time in the Army, I wholeheartedly believe none of this would have been possible.