My brother graduated high school in June 2017 and joined the Army shortly afterward, leaving for basic training just six weeks later. At that time, I was young and felt lost; I didn’t fully understand where he was going, and I missed him deeply. My mom, too, was sad, as we didn’t hear from him for ten long weeks. There were no text messages or phone calls to bridge the gap. In October, my mom announced that she would be going to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for my brother’s graduation from basic training. Soon after, he was transferred to Fort Stewart in Georgia for more training. Finally, I got to speak with him. He talked profoundly about the self-discipline he had developed and how much he had changed. You could hear it in the tone of his voice; he was different. After completing some advanced training, our family learned he would be deployed to an undisclosed location. This news hit hard; times were difficult, and we needed to embrace strength. We had to become a close-knit village, resilient in the face of uncertainty. Departure day arrived, and weeks passed without a call or text. When we did hear from him, the conversations were brief. I never imagined that his enlistment could bring our family this much stress. He traveled through Ireland, Kuwait, and Dubai, finally landing in the depths of Afghanistan. After a long 11 months, he returned stateside from deployment. My mom and I went to Georgia to welcome him home. At 3:30 AM, we witnessed the remarkable march-in ceremony. But when I finally saw my brother, I realized he had changed. He was still my brother, but the experience had left scars on him. He would smile and say he was okay, but I could see the weight he carried. Though I was still young, I learned a valuable lesson from my brother’s journey: perseverance in the face of challenges. I was determined to do something great for myself. With the mental support of my family, I knew that entering a male-dominated field would be difficult. However, I took pride in my drive and determination. If my brother could learn so much from the Army, then I could navigate the labor field and earn respect. I felt that a trade/vocational high school would suit me best. I faced some obstacles when I first joined, but I eventually found my passion in HVAC/R, despite initially hoping to pursue electrical work. I was aware of the challenges of being in a male-dominated environment, but I refused to let that deter me. I was determined to work hard for what I wanted. This value, this work ethic, is something I strive to carry forward, and I want to instill it in those who come after me. I have a goal, and I am committed to extending and pushing toward it. My brother taught me a lesson without even knowing he did, and I intend to honor that lesson every day.