One year ago to this day, I was leaving a hotel room on my way to Great Lakes to start boot camp in the US Navy. I was down on my luck, hardly any cash that I could properly hold on to, and saying my goodbyes to friends that I feared I might lose in my absence - having had that happen before in the past when I tried Air Force. I had been through many heartbreaks, letdowns, disappointments, etc. leading up to that moment where I felt like I had to jump into the unknown to make it anywhere with only a bare resemblance of a plan. I didn't really want to go back in the military after my rough experience with Air Force, but I knew I needed the education and training they provided to get the aviation job I wanted. So a year ago, I felt it was do or die.

Now one year later, on the exact same day, I have just passed my check ride and earned my qualification as aircrew - I'll be earning my wings and a promotion to E-4. In just one year, I've completely turned my situation around and feel confident about myself. In just one year, I've flown and seen more of the world than I have in my entire lifetime - with many more destinations planned. I still remember the days back when I felt stuck in college or stuck in that factory I was wasting away in envisioning some grand future where I wasn't in debt all the time, with my own place and not under my parents' roof because wages were never enough, traveling the world and seeing new places and meeting friends I felt were too far out of reach to see.

Even though I'm 30 years old, I feel like I've only just got my real start now. NOW, can I get around to doing the things I've wanted. Not all of them at this moment of course, there's still a little bit more road I got to cross, but man did I cross a LOT already. Take it from me: I've been through the ringer and had many low points in life, where it almost seems justified to kinda lay down and not put much effort anymore. That you're stuck where you are, and there's no need to struggle anymore. Those moments are but temporary - they don't last forever. BUT ... You need to keep struggling and have the determination to do something about it. It'll suck like hell in the moment, but you'll thank yourself later down the road once you cross it.