School?!

Even though I’m new to this whole military wife thing, my husband and I have been married for 11+ years. In all that time we’ve both bounced around career ideas about a million times. My husband looked at schools for degrees in graphic design, finance, computer science, and teaching. He even was trying to apprentice his way into becoming an Escrow Officer. I bounced around in college switching majors from elementary education to business then back to early childhood development. When I realized I didn’t know what I wanted to for the rest of my life I decided to stop attending college the degree unknown. We had two kids and each year a new dream would pop in my head of a job I could have years down the road. I thought about going to beauty college so I could work in the salon at an elderly home, I’d get to pamper and brighten a lot of days. I’d even get to foster amazing relationships with people who have been forgotten. Then I started cutting my husband’s hair every week and realized I really don’t enjoy that, so that career was out the window. I’m also homeschooling my children so in all reality I can’t have a job that would be 8 hours outside the home. So I just figured I’d be content where I was and not worry about what career I could have. Maybe one day I’d realize what I wanted to do when I grew up!

Now I sit at my desk in the afternoons reading an Anatomy and Physiology book. What?!?! Well it took moving from my hometown to realized what I wanted to be when I grew up! You know in whatever town you find yourself most comfortable, you have your hairstylist, your doctor, your chiropractor, your manicurist, etc… The person I send everyone I know to is my friend, Lynell. Without going into crazy detail, she helps people in amazing ways. I found her because of a nasty fall down some stairs that left my tailbone in a mess and years later she has helped too many of my friends to count. Spring ahead a few month into our new duty station and I meet some friends and the topic of conversation falls to tailbone hurting falls. The first thing that pops in my head is, “You should go see my friend Lynell.” That’s really impossible with the distance, so I hop on the Internet knowing there would have to be someone in the area that did what she does. NOTHING! The closest person is 4 hours away. Who would travel 4 hours to see someone some new girl said could help? I don’t think I would, but then it hits me. What if I was that girl? What if I could learn how to do this and start my own business? What if I could help all my friends? So the search began. Where could I train, what schooling do I need? That lady that is 4 hours away is also an instructor…. SCORE! Training is one weekend a month only 4 hours away! Some people fly to training because it isn’t close, but I get to go only 4 hours away. So the road begins for me. I’m taking an online anatomy class with lots and lots of studying. Somehow being older and actually knowing what I want to do has helped me pick up that book. I’m excited to find a career that fits our family, helps friends, and makes me happy!

That guy I married 11+ years ago, he’s happy now too! He found his inner geek and LOVES being an IT guy! He did realize this dream a few years before I realized mine, but finding an in with a big company when you’re trying to support a family is rough. Well my husband found his big company, the Navy, and so far he is loving his job. Yes, he joined the military later in life (almost 30), and yes, he is an old guy with a bunch of young sailors, but you know what… it fits us. All the choices he made through MEPS and A school and C school were choices of an almost 30 year old man. He chose the job that he wanted to pursue a career in, he studied for all it was worth, and he has been successful thus far. Who knows how long is naval career will be, it may be 6, or it may be 20. Right now he is working as hard as he he can to further his career in the Navy or outside the Navy. Do you know there are contacts to be made all the time. Don’t waste a single contact. When our time with Navy is over, my husband will still need a job and the soonest that would be is in 4ish years. Do you think he’s meeting people now that see how he works? Of course! So building that Rolodex of contacts has already begun. I’m so proud of my husband and the career he is building and the man he is becoming. Who knew 3 years ago when he signed that contract we’d be where we are today. It’s been an interesting 3 years, but it’s kinda nice sitting here realizing we’re actually kinda grown up! We have goals and dreams that fit us. We enjoy life every day. So 20 year old me… relax, by 35 you’ll know what you want to be when you grow up!