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Storm · 10-28-2005, 02:28

Aric, I also hope this is an appropriate place for this, because I'm responding to it as well! Having read your post, I hope that this thread will help some of the younger people lurking about this site at least stop and think about their goals. In addition, possibly saving them from TR or another QP putting their IP address on the chopping block.

First and foremost, I was in much the same place you were when I graduated from high school. All I ever wanted was to be Rambo, I grew up in an Army family, etc. I wanted to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point after high school(following in my fathers footsteps), but my father had other plans. He first and foremost wanted me to explore my options in baseball, secondly he expected me to explore my other options for going to college. At the time I couldn't believe he could do that to me, to me the battle lines were drawn.

That being said, going to a normal college, playing college ball, and growing up a bit was the greatest possible thing that could have happened to me. I ended up going to a liberal arts college because that was all I could afford since I refused to talk with my father. During my time in college I was forced to examine each and every ideal I thought I held dear. Basically, I learned not just to spew an idea I thought was my own, I learned to defend why I believed what I did. My father and I are closer than ever, and I still plan on serving in the Army to the very best of my capability. I believe I have the work ethic to serve in SF, but as Aric said, serving isn't about you, or what you want necessarily.

So, for all you people in high school lurking on this sight, I will humbly give you some of the best advice I have ever gotten. It comes from the book Secret Commandos by Mr. John Plaster, and comes to you freely, if you open the book. Forgive me in advance for taking this out of context in an attempt to be brief. "Their deaths made no sense, no sense--unless I could learn from their loss...I've got to make myself ready, I've got to learn, to listen, to absorb. I knew nothing...I knew nothing...there was so much to learn"(Plaster 48, 49).

Please realize this is coming from a person at the ripe-old-age of 22. I still know nothing, and would never presume to. Armed with this fact I encourage all of you younger folks to take this advice. Read, learn, listen, and absorb as much information as you possibly can. The QP's have allowed most of us to be here as guests in their home to do just that; take advantage of the golden opportunity you have been presented. In the end, at the very worst, you will be helping yourself. At best, it could save your life, that of a teammate, or someone else you hold dear.

Forgive me for being a bit long-winded, or possibly being inappropriate as Aric mentioned. Hopefully this will help out some of you that are even younger than I am.

-Storm

10-28-2005, 02:28	#5
Storm Asset Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 57	Aric, I also hope this is an appropriate place for this, because I'm responding to it as well! Having read your post, I hope that this thread will help some of the younger people lurking about this site at least stop and think about their goals. In addition, possibly saving them from TR or another QP putting their IP address on the chopping block. First and foremost, I was in much the same place you were when I graduated from high school. All I ever wanted was to be Rambo, I grew up in an Army family, etc. I wanted to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point after high school(following in my fathers footsteps), but my father had other plans. He first and foremost wanted me to explore my options in baseball, secondly he expected me to explore my other options for going to college. At the time I couldn't believe he could do that to me, to me the battle lines were drawn. That being said, going to a normal college, playing college ball, and growing up a bit was the greatest possible thing that could have happened to me. I ended up going to a liberal arts college because that was all I could afford since I refused to talk with my father. During my time in college I was forced to examine each and every ideal I thought I held dear. Basically, I learned not just to spew an idea I thought was my own, I learned to defend why I believed what I did. My father and I are closer than ever, and I still plan on serving in the Army to the very best of my capability. I believe I have the work ethic to serve in SF, but as Aric said, serving isn't about you, or what you want necessarily. So, for all you people in high school lurking on this sight, I will humbly give you some of the best advice I have ever gotten. It comes from the book Secret Commandos by Mr. John Plaster, and comes to you freely, if you open the book. Forgive me in advance for taking this out of context in an attempt to be brief. "Their deaths made no sense, no sense--unless I could learn from their loss...I've got to make myself ready, I've got to learn, to listen, to absorb. I knew nothing...I knew nothing...there was so much to learn"(Plaster 48, 49). Please realize this is coming from a person at the ripe-old-age of 22. I still know nothing, and would never presume to. Armed with this fact I encourage all of you younger folks to take this advice. Read, learn, listen, and absorb as much information as you possibly can. The QP's have allowed most of us to be here as guests in their home to do just that; take advantage of the golden opportunity you have been presented. In the end, at the very worst, you will be helping yourself. At best, it could save your life, that of a teammate, or someone else you hold dear. Forgive me for being a bit long-winded, or possibly being inappropriate as Aric mentioned. Hopefully this will help out some of you that are even younger than I am. -Storm Last edited by Storm; 10-28-2005 at 02:35. Reason: Reworded a small portion.
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