Contestant's Info

Creative Submission

Resourceful, Remarkable and Resilient

I’d always had a love for our country and respect for the flag, but my love and respect grew when I was seven years old, when my dad joined the US Air Force. My dad had wanted to join the military for a long time, since we come from a long line of service members. My great great grandfather served in the Civil War, having the honor of being commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln. My grandpa served in the National Guard and my papa served in the Army during the Vietnam War. I have two uncles who served during Desert Storm and the War on Terror. I’ve experienced many struggles, as well as many blessings, that have come because of my dad’s service to our country, and these have helped me to become the resilient person I am.

My dad chose to join the Air Force Reserve so he would be home more often, but he has still been away for over two and a half years of my life. He deployed to the Middle East when I was in both fifth and ninth grade. I remember many of the hard things from those times he was away. I remember my kindergarten sister crying every night, missing our dad, and saying how unfair it was that her friends had a dad. She’d worry that he didn’t love her anymore and would never come home. I remember, as the oldest of four children, having to take on more responsibility and help my mom out, who was often stressed with the added responsibilities with my dad being gone. Dad had to miss many birthdays, special events, and holidays. I remember video chatting on two different Christmas mornings. I recall the sadness of having to take family Christmas pictures without him. He’d take a picture in front of a Humvee or inside a C-17 aircraft. We would make a Holiday card that showed our dad on the other side of the world and us here in America supporting him.

I’ve also experienced many positive things as a result of my dad serving. So many kind people reach out to military kids. My siblings and I have experienced so much love and support, especially when he’s been deployed. I remember one Christmas season when he was deployed, I got to go to Dick’s Sporting Goods and choose new shoes, clothes and a chair for my room. I felt really special and loved. My three siblings and I got to experience “Operation Kids” where we, along with other military children, got to simulate a deployment and see a little bit of what our parents were doing while they were away. So many kind friends remembered us and would on occasion come by with gifts such as the red, white and blue bracelets that made us think of him. We have a map in our hallway that shows where we are in Arizona and connects to where he was in the Middle East. There’s a place where we’d put the pictures he would send and a place where we’d put the letters that we would send in his next package.

I am proud of my dad. He has taught me to love our country. I’ve become resilient as he has served. My three siblings and mom have become resilient too. My brothers want to serve in the military as well. With all the blessings, the challenges are still there. There's always a chance that he'll deploy and I worry if he will make it to my high school graduation. However, I know that if he can’t be here, I'll be resilient and will be honored to share him with America.