The Best of BOLC

You know that moment when you meet someone and you know that your life is going to be changed forever? Well, as I leave Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, I feel blessed to say that I have met more than one “someone.”

Back in July, I begrudgingly left Utah to go to the heat and humidity of Texas where I was absolutely positive that this was going to be a “get through this” experience, a “hoop to jump through.” Now don’t get me wrong, BOLC was a bit comical as far as Army training is concerned, and in that sense it was a hoop to jump through. But what I didn’t expect was to make so many great friends who would turn my time at BOLC from a “get through this” experience to a time in my life that I was sad to see end.

While at BOLC, I endured 107 degree heat, seemingly endless humidity, greasy hair (a true hardship for me as those of you who know me would understand), and death-by-PowerPoint for what seemed like 12 hours a day, every day. But, all these “hardships” seem a small price to pay for the relationships I formed.

As I think about all the awesome times the “Six Pack + 1” had, there are a few that stick out in my mind more than the others. One of these was just a few weeks ago; our “Six Pack” was still a newly formed group and I probably still wasn’t totally ready to be myself around these people (when you’re as much of an oddity as I am you have to be careful letting people see your true colors). We were watching a movie in the hotel lobby when I saw I had missed a call from my mom. So I went outside to return the phone call; what I heard when I answered the phone wasn’t exactly a surprise, but it also wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear. My mom proceeded to explain to me that my grandpa- who had been in the ICU- wasn’t getting any better, and that in fact he was getting worse. She explained to me what was going on, and my medical-minded brain started racing. Perhaps my experience in nursing is somewhat limited, but I knew enough to know that my grandpa wasn’t doing well; I knew he wasn’t likely to make it much longer.

After getting off the phone, I returned to the lobby to grab some things I had left in there and to say goodnight to my friends; I thought I could hold myself together long enough to say goodnight to them… but I couldn’t (a rarity for me since I have about as much emotion a rock). As I proceeded to have a mini break down, one of my fellow Six-Packers took me outside to talk. While we were talking, he made me realize that it was more important for me to try to get home to see my grandpa one last time than it was for me to go play Army in the field. So with his reassurance and help I was able to make the necessary arrangements to get home to spend some time with my grandpa.

Maybe this friend will never read this, or will never know how much that meant to me, but it was that night where I realized that I was making true friends, people I could be myself around, people who would accept me and all my eccentricities.

So, per usual, I have gotten a bit tangential with my writing; I digress. Anyway, here I sit, at the airport, after WAAAAY too many goodbyes, waiting for my flight back to Utah with mixed feelings. I am so glad I will make it back to my grandpa’s graveside service, and I can’t wait to see my friends, family, and gatos back at home. But on the other hand, I leave the “heat and humidity of Texas” with a heavy heart, not knowing when I will next see my new friends. So, as my friend Sudds did, I want those of you who helped me the most to know how grateful I am to have met you…

- Deb: If only September 20^th had come a bit sooner. Ha ha! But seriously, thank you for the laughs and the delicious Mexican food in the field. You taught me so much about what “selfless service” really means, even though you probably don’t realize it.

- Sudds: Whether you like it or not, you will always be a big teddy bear. You are the hardest-working, sweetest guy I have ever met. It is always so inspiring to meet people like you who go above and beyond to do and be the best. I would follow you into war any day.

- Shep: Oh, Shep-teezy… I will never forget the first day we met and I gave you lengthy, ridiculous instructions on how to get to the vending machines. You probably thought I was nuts… little did I know how much of a commonality that would be for us! Your humor always put a smile on my face. “I carry a rape whistle!”

- B-Rad Licious: The one who brought us together. Your good attitude, outgoing nature, and happy face are absolutely contagious! Thank you for being the light the moths gravitate towards. I’m convinced that you are the biggest reason we all became so close.

- Sir Matticus: Even though I’ve known you for over four years now, I still feel lucky as ever to be your friend. I have never seen you in a truly bad mood, and when I’m around you I want to be happier, more optimistic, and generally a better person.

- Cali: Our “+1.” How I will miss your gorgeous face and random humor. Talk about a marvelous addition to the “Six Pack!” You completed us! J

- Trina: The best roommate I could have EVER asked for! From day one I knew we would get along just great… and we did! Thank you for annihilating me on Words with Friends and teaching me that it’s okay to lose every once in a while. And thank you even more for always providing me with a laugh or a good talk!

- Sabrina: May the cynics unite! I’m so glad I had you to commiserate with through the monotony of our never-ending PowerPoint lectures. Thank you for being a great bunk buddy, and a great battle buddy as well!

- Melinda: After the hell of nursing school and our many other ups and downs we’ve helped each other through, I am happy to add BOLC to the list of things we endured together. I am certainly sad that the goodbyes are for a much longer time this time around, but I am eternally grateful for the friendship that started with, “You need to take your earrings out.”

So to the “Six Pack +1” (and a few others), good luck in your endeavors and adventures and I will count the days (innumerable though they may be) until we reunite!

Yippy Skippy! My first post!

I’ve never really been interested in blogging. Yes, I enjoy reading other people’s blogs, but I have never wanted to write my own. I have always thought a couple of things in regards to blogs, the first being, “Blogging is kind of like scrapbooking (which I hate). It’s an ‘arsty fartsy’- as my mom and I would say- way to display photos and such to other people.” The second thought was, “I doubt I’d be very good at blogging anyway. Nobody would be interested.” But then this crazy thing happened… I was told I was going to be stationed in Germany.

Germany; not exactly in the United States. I was prepared to be told I was going anywhere in the U.S., but I was not prepared to hear that I would be leaving the country. I then immediately thought, “How am I going to communicate with all my family and friends back home?” And then it came to me… the blogging that I had become so adamantly opposed to doing. So here I am, with a newfound appreciation for blogging. I will try posting about my adventures, or lack thereof- “try” being the operative word, but make no promises. Also, please bear with me as my writing skills leave something to be desired.

So I suppose to start this blog, I should go back a few years to where my new adventure started…

As a junior in high school I was already worrying about how I was going to pay for college… not something most high school kids are all that concerned about, I’ve always been a bit on the “weird” side. I remember talking to my parents about my options. I had always wanted to be a nurse, ever since I can remember. However, I was also acutely aware of how competitive it was, and still is, to get into a good nursing program. So now I was faced with two dilemmas: how to pay for my degree and where I was going to get it.

My parents suggested, to my initial dismay, doing ROTC. I had no idea why they thought that would be a good fit for me, I mean really, I was shy, awkward, and certainly not ready to take on such a “scary” commitment. I staved off their frequent reminders that I could apply for an ROTC scholarship with comments such as, “It’s just not for me,” and “I just don’t want to do it.” But then something happened, and to this day I can’t figure out what it was, but I had a change of heart and/or mind. I decided that I might as well apply for the ROTC scholarship(s), and if it was meant to be, I would be offered one of them; and if it wasn’t meant to be then I wouldn’t be offered anything.

I proceeded to apply for ROTC scholarships through the Army, Air Force, and Navy. While interviewing with the then-current Battalion Commander at the University of Utah (where I was planning on attending nursing school), I was told that if I was awarded the scholarship I would be able to attend nursing school at Westminster. To say I was shocked at this discovery would be an understatement; I was completely elated! Westminster was to me, the “rich people’s” school. Although I would have loved to go there, I had convinced myself that it wasn’t an option. I just couldn’t afford it. But now it was almost a reality. I felt like the dog with a treat dangling in front of its face; my dream was so close, yet still so far.

Following my interview with the BC at the U of U, I proceeded to interview with the Air Force and the Navy, both of which also seemed to have good offerings for me. Now I just had to play the waiting game and see if any of the scholarships came through.

After what seemed like forever (in retrospect it was probably only a couple of weeks) I received my first offer… from the Army. It was impressive. I was being awarded full tuition and fees, to include book and spending stipends, to either the U of U or Westminster. I remember thinking, “Stuff like this doesn’t happen to people like me!” I accepted the scholarship, thrilled with the offer and the opportunity.

Then came the offer from the Navy, a similar one as that from the Army and equally appealing. I admit, I wondered if I had done the right thing by accepting the Army’s offer before anything else was able to come through. But my loyalty is what kept me with the Army; my loyalty and my faith that things were working out the way they were for a reason that probably wasn’t known to me just yet. So I was set, I had my scholarship, my acceptance letter to Westminster, and I was only a junior in high school. Life was looking great!

And with the faith that everything would work out for the best and that this was what I was meant to be doing, I graduated high school and headed for Salt Lake to attend Westminster College and be part of the Ute Warrior Battalion ROTC.

As I progressed through both the ROTC and the Nursing program, I had several opportunities that I know I never would have had had I not accepted that scholarship. One of which was the opportunity to work as the UWB C/CSM (Cadet Command Sergeant Major). I had a hard time believing I was being offered such a “high-up” position at first. This is a position usually given to males, and NEVER given to a nursing cadet. Yet I had been chosen. This led to another, “I can’t believe this is happening! Stuff like this just doesn’t happen to me” moment.

When I was first given this leadership position, I was still very unsure of my leadership abilities; I had very little belief in myself. But deep down I knew I had been given the position because somebody believed in me, whether or not I did too was irrelevant. I had to show this person/these people that I could be the leader they saw in me. Along the way I have no doubt that I made mistakes; I was certainly far from perfect, but I always gave my all and then some. There were times when I hated myself for not achieving perfection in the C/CSM position, and I constantly feared letting the people down who I looked up to the most. But in the end, I realized that being a good leader isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being confident, approachable, and willing to help others. I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity that taught me these things.

Another great opportunity I had was NSTP or Nurse Summer Training Program. It is a program designed specifically for ROTC nursing cadets to allow them to travel to an Army hospital and work one-on-one with a nurse taking care of patients and seeing what a nurse in the Army really does.

Originally I was slotted to go to a hospital in Georgia. The prospect of July in the heat and humidity of Georgia, coupled with the fact that I would have little access to cities and entertainment left me less than thrilled. But I quickly reminded myself that it was going to be a great learning experience, one that I was lucky to get. Then, not too long after I had found out I was heading to Georgia, I got a phone call asking if I would rather go to NSTP in Hawaii. Seriously?! Of course I would rather go to Hawaii! Once again, I found myself thinking, “There is no way this is happening! Stuff like this just doesn’t happen for people like me.” But it did happen, and I was able to gain immeasurable clinical experience while also being able to travel Hawaii.

So what have I learned after four great years of college, during which I met
some of the best friends I have ever had, made it through a grueling nursing
program,learned from some of America’s best leaders, and gained the self-
confidence I never had before?  I learned that sometimes stuff that “just
doesn’t happen to people like me” actually does happen when you take that
one little leap of faith.