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Personal-Professional Narrative Paper

We all have at least one life experience that has left a lasting effect on our perceptions, motivations, and how we view the world around us. Our decisions and life goals play a huge role in our career path and our future. Many life events influenced my decision to enlist in the U.S. Army and continue my education as a non-traditional college student. As a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, I have served for over nine years, and I plan to continue serving until retirement. To aid in my career progression, I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in business management. I have learned many life lessons throughout my childhood from family and friends, activities in Boy Scouts, and my military career that has shaped my outlook on life and my future career goals as an Automotive Maintenance Technician.

Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my mother, an Air Force veteran, who worked diligently to provide for my sister and me. She made sure we had a roof over our heads while not missing out on childhood experiences, but she could only do so much as a single mother. Her hard work and dedication taught me that determination and innovation were the only ways to achieve my goals. Although my father was absent during my childhood, I did not go without strong male figures. My uncles, family friends, and Boy Scout Leaders taught me many life lessons: marriage, fatherhood, leadership, survival skills, goal-setting, and how to be an influential team member. Additionally, growing up in Boy Scouts kept me from getting into trouble, helped me get to know people within my community, taught me the fundamentals of survival in the wilderness, provided me intangible skills as I participated in hands-on projects; which lead to achieving Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Boy Scouts.

A scout leader once told me, "achieve your goals, and once you achieve them, no one can take it away from you.” This quote has tremendously impacted my life and are words I still live by today. He told me this when I went to him for advice on joining the military; I was currently attending a community college after high school. I was two semesters from completing my associate's degree in automotive technology; I realized that most mechanic shops wanted to hire people with experience, not someone who recently graduated with a degree and no experience. I was going to quit early and not complete my degree to join the Army. I have noticed on different occasions many opportunities have opened up for me, all because I have an associate's degree.

For example, I started my military career two ranks higher than my battle buddies because of my college degree. In 2012 I joined the Army as a Private First Class as Styker mechanic, where I was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, for four years. I have worked with a lot of great people to include my beautiful wife. We were talking about our future and what our goals were in the military. I told her, "I wanted to retire from the military as a staff sergeant." Her response was, "You will not retire as a staff sergeant; you can achieve so much more. Why stoop for something low when your opportunities are endless." (Shaneeke Beal 2014).

Since my family has served in the military, I felt it was my passion to continue my family tradition. My grandparents are both retired Air Force, and my mother served in the Air Force for eight years. While you can make more money outside the military, the military offers discipline and a great sense of knowledge while also teaching younger soldiers how to grow into adults, live independently, and be responsible for their actions. It also teaches soldiers how to follow directions and be present for work and appointments on time.

The Army has been great to my family and me; we have been stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, Fort Hood, Texas, and currently reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The places we have been able to visit and sites we have seen would have never been able to if I never joined.

Boy Scouts and serving in the military have taught me to treat others the way you want to be treated. With that being said, there are numerous times I find myself helping someone with fixing their vehicle or even helping them with yard work if they are unable to out of the kindness of my heart. In my career, the way to promote through the ranks you need to study a couple of creeds and know regulations and or policies on how to take care of the soldiers you will be in charge of. I have spent numerous hours helping soldiers study and realize there is no right or wrong answer but making intelligent and wise decisions. Not every soldier is cut out for the military lifestyle. There are pros and cons of being a soldier in the military. You work longer hours than a regular nine-to-five job, but you do receive free schooling and healthcare. Some soldiers do not like being told what to do or be responsible for four to five soldiers.

A significant challenge I face; is being responsible for soldiers can be a good thing or bad. This is where you can change their outlook on life, help them be successful, and get to know them more personally instead of only knowing them as a co-worker. I have influenced and mentored soldiers on how to be successful in their military careers, which has made me feel like a father figure. This makes me feel good about myself and gives me a purpose to go to work every day, knowing people can count on me to lead the way for them. Three years ago, when I was responsible for five soldiers, I would make work more of a competition for them to test their mechanical skills and respond to being in charge, showing the areas where they need to improve or succeed. My goal is to find the soldier that needs a little extra care to mentor and guide to be successful whether they retire in 20 years or complete one contract of four years and find a new career to be successful with.

In closing, life events aid in shaping a person’s perception, ultimately influencing their perceptions, motivations, career, and educational goals. From joining Boy Scouts to enlisting in the military, I have gained an abundance of knowledge and learned useful life skills that can increase my success and support my career and personal goals. Throughout our lifetime, we will meet many people who will leave a lasting impact on us. My interactions with those around me have taught me that there are two types of people, those who you can look up to and those who you can learn from. I have turned challenges into learning experiences that have not only made me a better person, leader, husband, father, and friend.