”The First Steps”

I walked down the sidewalk with my head down. I could see the wind rustling the leaves, but I couldn’t feel a thing, only the fear boiling up inside of me. I looked up. There it was, like a deep dark cave just waiting for me to step into and get lost. But as I walked up the stairs of the small building, I drew in a deep breath, and made the choice to enter confidently. As I opened the door to the orthodontist, I felt sure that everything was going to be okay.

Because once you take the first step, once you know in your heart that you can do it, things don’t feel as scary anymore. And this is what being a military child is like for me. This is what courage means to me. Every time I have to move, I tell myself: Be bold. Be strong. Be courageous. And never forget, you’ve done this before and you can do it again. 

I have been a military child my whole life, and still have several years ahead of me. During these 11 years there have been so many challenges that have blocked my way. But with the strength of love for my family and friends, passion for finding new adventures, and courage locked in my heart forever, I have been able to overcome many fears and face the world with new perspectives. But there is one thing that I have definitely learned, and that will stick with me forever: being a military kid is not easy. The least we can do is make the best of it. Even if it’s hard sometimes. Courage gets stronger. It builds on itself. The more you overcome, the more you know you can face in the future.

After the summer of 2nd grade, I had to move to a state where I would have to meet new people, and face new challenges. This would be my first time changing schools since kindergarten. I was more than scared. Kansas was as far west as I had ever been, and I felt nervous, knowing that we would only live there for around a year. I wasn’t sure if I would fit in. I had a lot of different feelings, none of which were courage. But as the year progressed and the time grew closer to PCS again, I found that my confidence had grown, leading to greater courage.

When the time came to move overseas, I felt small and suddenly unsure. I wasn’t sure if I would  fit in. I didn’t want to move again. But it takes courage to do something you’re not so sure about. It takes courage to do something you’re afraid of. It takes courage to follow along on a journey you don’t have control over. So with the courage I had gathered from knowing I had made it through yet another year of a military kid’s life, I grabbed the handle of my suitcase, took a deep breath, and took the first step onto the plane.

I know that I will have many challenges, fears, and doubts, in the future, but I also know that with each problem I solve, each challenge I concur, and each first step I take, I will gather more strength and courage.