Out Of rocky waters and safe o
Out of Rocky Waters and Safe on LandIt was January 12th, 2004 at about 1100 hours onboard the USS Nimitz CVN-68. I had just arrived in the Combat Direction Center, my place of business, when the phone rang. OS3 Brito yelled to me, "OS2, you have a phone call. It's Brooks". I reached down and picked up the phone. "Combat Direction Center, this is OS2 Barker speaking. How may I help you Sir or Ma'am?" "OS2 Barker, this is OS2 Brooks. I have your Detailer on the line with me and she would like to discuss your intentions of re-enlisting". An hour later, the conversation was over and I was left with one of the biggest decisions of my life: stay in the Navy or get out? Staying in would mean leaving my family and friends again. It would be my fourth eight-month deployment overseas to the Arabian Gulf since March of 1999. So why am I here at Grossmont College and not half way across the world? I am at Grossmont College because I was not ready for college out of High School, I had to seek out a stable financial situation for my future family, and because I now want to pursue my dream of becoming the first in my family to complete college.When I left High School, I was not prepared to begin college. It was in January of 1998 and I was
After pursuing her relentlessly, and after months of rejection, I decided the only way I could get her to fall in love with me would be showing her that I had a future. Cherise and I spent countless hours together. I am no longer a wide-eyed eighteen year old wondering what to do with my life; I feel like I have purpose, and I owe it to myself to accomplish that which no one in my family has, obtaining a college degree. Knowing that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" is what reminds me everyday of what my uncle told me when I was young. You are going to do great things and accomplish all that your heart desires. I will have finally grown into the mature man that is not afraid to take on challenges. My career in the Navy has equipped me with the tools I felt I was lacking in my life to accomplish this dream, including the money. Brown, raised both of her arms in the air and said, "Class, we have a visitor. I wanted to show to whomever I ended up marrying that I could support them and be a responsible husband. When I got the telephone call from my detailer, I decided would not agree to another contract because the Navy was going to force me into additional years of sea duty. After joining the carrier in the Gulf, Cherise and I emailed each other every day. The relationship was still that of friends, but there was a hint of interest. I know now that by putting my faith in God and believing in myself I will accomplish my dream of graduating college. My decision to join the Navy had provided the financial stability needed for our marriage, as Cherise was still attending college.
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