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Everything happens for a reason. You meet the people you meet for a reason. You experience the things you do for a reason. You achieve the things you do for a reason, and the things you don’t achieve also have a reason behind them.
Growing up as an army brat I had to learn this the hard way. I was forced to move repeatedly throughout my childhood and change schools, towns, and houses multiple times. You don’t have the childhood friends most people have had since kindergarten. I don’t really have a hometown. I was always the new kid constantly looking for my place where I belonged.
I remember being affected the most when I was moving my fifth grade year. We were only supposed to be stationed in Chicago for a year but even in that short amount of time I became extremely attached. I had amazing friends, great teachers, and I was excited to participate in everything. I had found my place for the first time and I didn’t want to leave it. But really I just wanted to stay in one place for a long period of time.
After a year we moved, as planned and I was completely crushed. I remember walking out of the school bawling my eyes out, because I didn’t want to be the new kid anymore. I was tired of picking up everything, moving, and starting all over again. I had found the place where I “belonged”, or at least I thought I did. We were being stationed in Virginia for who knows how long and I didn’t care about anything or anyone.
My first day of 6th grade was complete torture. I was the new kid again and starting over again was harder this time than any other time. I didn’t try to talk to people or even deal with the fact that I was stuck here and I couldn’t do anything to change that. I was the weird kid in the back of the class that didn’t speak and that’s where I was comfortable, by myself. I had a few friends, but I wouldn’t allow myself to get close to anyone. I guess I figured what was the point in trying if I was just going to have to move again. I was that kid for three years upset about the stuff I couldn’t change.
It wasn’t until my ninth grade year that I finally realized I needed to get over it and make the most of everything the way it was now. There’s no use being upset over things you can’t change. Growing up an army brat helped my truly find out who I was and helped me to appreciate the opportunities given to me. I am a stronger person because of it, so I believe everything happens for a reason.