A Time When My Mind Was Changed and How This Was Significant

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Recommended: Adolescent development in the role of parents

At the young age of eleven, an event that I never thought could benefit me so much was when my mom joined the Army National Guard. At this age, a lot of change had already occurred in my life. My mom had just recently gotten married, and while she began her training, I would stay at home with my step-dad. I am not an only child, but since my two sisters are significantly older than me, I’ve been raised for a large part of my life as an only child. During the time when my mom joined the guard, I was not close to my sisters so I can remember how hard it was for me when she was gone. Even though my step-dad has always been there for me and done his best to provide for my needs, I can still remember how upset and slightly resentful I felt the day my mom left for basic training. But now that I look back at where I was when my mom first joined the military and where I am now, I can see how strong the experience has made me. I’m able to recognize and be proud of values that I realize I may not have gained if she hadn’t followed through with this decision.
The times that I didn’t always have my mom around are most responsible for how independent I am today. Basic training and Army Individual Training (AIT) lasted for a total of six months that I wasn’t able to see or talk to her as much as I had wanted. Without my mom to depend on, I learned at a young age to do and figure many things out on my own. Besides doing my own laundry and cooking for myself most of the time, I had to hold myself accountable for school work, cleaning up after myself, rehearsing for piano recitals and remembering when I had practice for soccer or karate. The independence that I learned at a young age has carried with me until now and will probably continue to al...

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... major of my marching band, I have learned a little more of how to successfully be a positive leader and earn the respect of others while in this position. I have gained more confidence in myself from the support of my mom and my step-dad and have also noticed how much I enjoy being able to help benefit others while being in leadership roles. While I feel like I’ve gained many great values from my mom, I feel like this one has been one of the more significant.
Even though my mom’s absence from when she was training with the Guard was hard for me at a young age, the experience has definitely benefited me in making me a stronger person. When my mom was away, my relationship with my step-dad grew stronger and I became even closer with my mom as well when she was available to spend time together. This experience has been and will continue to be significant in my life.

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