College Admissions Essay: Why Am I In The Army

Sometimes I ask myself, “Why am I in the Army?” There are days I love it, and days I am surprised to be here at all. My experience so far in the Army has been positive, for the most part. Tactically and physically I feel I have pushed myself. I enjoy being mentally and physically challenged, and that part of my personality played a major part in my desire to become an Army reservist in the first place. I never want to say I did not try my hardest or do my best. I have always believed I could do more in life and that is one reason I became an enlisted Army soldier. The initial reason I joined in December of 2009 was to help my father, Art. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2009, and I had been out of work over a year. I felt he didn’t need the additional stress of house payments and bills on top of chemotherapy. When my father passed away due to his illness, I knew I still wanted to be in the Army. It was hard to move on after his death, but training to be an Army reservist actually helped me out the year after he died.
Motivation here and beyond is key to my overall success. I admittedly at times have felt mine drop to abysmal levels. What helps is considering those that have done more than I have, endured more than I have, and who continue to “soldier on” and succeed in their careers. I am not married, have no children, and no longer have my parents. The one person I think that inspires me is my twin sister, Serafina. I think about how hard she works to live on her own in New York, I think of all the struggles she has survived, and I consider her patience and love. She is my best friend, and probably the strongest person I