A soldier

These past few years I have been thinking about what I want to be when I grow up a lot more. I've wanted to do it all: astronaut, fire fighter, cop, doctor, and engineer. No matter how old I was there was always one thing I have always wanted to be though. A soldier.

As a kid whenever I saw a soldier, in the army or marines, they always looked like they could do anything. The sense of pride they had to defend their home and families. The way they walked down the sidewalk like they were marching into battle. The way I looked up to them made me want to be one someday. Every boy's dream.

But how do you make a choice that hard? It could be life or death for all you know or even worse.

After still thinking about this for 8 years it still is the hardest choice I will ever have to make. It's something no one can make for you or help you make. The advice and experience from others is great but it can only take you so far. Everyone has their own opinion and there is only one that matters. Mine.
The pride and self-esteem you get from being a solider is unmatchable. You have the feeling like no other by protecting someone else's home and life. If I die I can be remembered as a hero who saved lives. If I get a leg blown off I know I stopped someone else's leg or even life spared. Person not all the money in the world is worth that feeling of accomplishment and pride.
People think I'm stupid because I say I want to be a soldier and I can do nothing else but fight. Personally I love to prove them wrong because it's one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not everyone fights and when you do you have to be safe, think of the outcomes, do it as fast as possible and shoot at the same time. Hard right?

When I grew up as a kid, about in second grade, I always had the mentality that “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger”. It has stuck with me since then and I truly believe in it. The harder the challenge is the more you learn and grow from it and most important prepare for even harder ones. I want to do the hardest mental and physical thing in the world with the less amount of food and sleep to making it more of a challenge. I personally love challenges and to find my limits.

In my family I would be the fourth generation go into the military and on my other side of the family my grandpa and uncle was in the military too. There is no word to express the pride both my grandpa's had when I told them I was think about this. There is nothing more he wanted then a fourth generation soldier. No pressure or anything.
Now the biggest problem how do I break this to my parents? No mom wants to have their son in the military. My dad wouldn't be thrilled about it either. He was happy that the soldier line ended with him. After time, explaining myself and long fights they are more open to the idea but still hate the thought of it. Parents right?
When my cousin started to go to college I started to do the math. It's ridiculous! 30 grand a year just to get in; I don't have that kind of money. Don't forget books, food, housing, cloths and whatever else you need. Thankfully the military pays for this and that is a big reason for a lot of people and a minor one for me. I don't want to be in debt for 20 years trying to pay bills.