A choice between self and family paid civicnation
My family is one of the military families who joined because it was the only option. My father became disabled in 2006, and in 2009, my mother joined the Army and switched roles with him—from stay-at-home parent to primary breadwinner. As a stay-at-home parent and having never graduated from college, my mother didn’t have many options—not any which would have supported a family of eight and a disabled spouse. In this situation, enlisting was the only feasible option.
It’s hard—going to school and then coming home to care for a family. High school was especially difficult. I didn’t get to do extracurriculars like some of my peers, and I did most of my homework in between classes so that I didn’t have to take it home. The summer before my senior year, the Army had us move, and I left my friends and the life I had known for three years to start over right before graduation.
When I got in, I made sure to choose a college far away from my family, so I could finally be independent—be just Samantha, not the daughter or sister. I was selfish, but I didn’t want to have to juggle family life with school life again, especially not in college. I do feel like there was a bit of resentment towards my decision; it was obvious I was “escaping” my current situation instead of upholding my responsibility to my family.