She became part of my family, and I became a part of her dog pack.
At a time in my life when I had no sense of direction, I took a leap of faith.
I had the distinct thought of 'Oh, this is really happening now' as soon as I felt the G onset from turning the jet.
What I didn’t expect to happen in the military happened--the Marines gave me the confidence to tackle Higher Education.
Eventually, I was given a detail known as Funeral Honors.
What they don't tell you about enlisting is that there will be a lot of hard times.
With all the duties that I had to take care of, somewhere along the line I had forgotten that I needed to take care of myself.
I may not be able to provide a story directly from experience, I do know what it is like to be a dependent of a veteran.
Sound Off Comic Book Edition
Stories from Veterans & Military Dependents at IVC
I seized the opportunity for a huge lifestyle change by contacting my local Navy Recruiter.
First stop was bootcamp in Illinois which became an experience that will stay with me forever.
I found myself missing a shared sense of purpose.
For entertainment, we shared stories based on true events. Bangor was rumored to be haunted.
One thing I knew for sure was that I had always wanted to become a nurse.
One thing I can tell you for sure is that some of my better times with them were also some of my most miserable times.
If there’s one thing that I learned, it’s that you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
Sound Off: Stories from Veterans & Their Families
Testimonial Disclaimer
The stories and personal experiences expressed throughout are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the official stance or views of Irvine Valley College. Any opinions or statements herein are personal and should not be attributed to the institution.