Let the Journey Begin
If someone came up to the me eleven years ago and told me that I would be walking the decks of some god-forsaken ship, I would have done one of two things: either laugh, or made a smart ass comment to him or her. It is funny how life has a way of planning things for you. The year was 2000, and I was beginning to wonder about going to collage after graduation. I was a student at T.L Weston High School which at the time was formally known as just T.L.Weston. If you was to go there today, it would be called Greenville-Weston High School. However, this was before the city decided that it would be cost efficient and in everyone's best interest or "inter-rest" as one of my favorite Chef's would say, to merge the two high schools.
T.L. Weston was one of those schools that could have easily been turned into high school fame or some type of drama-sitcom that you might have seen on the now defect UPN. Where did I fit into this environment? I was one of those types of people who were " under the wire" so to speak. I was the one who stayed out of trouble and I didn't any of the numerous clicks that were in the school. The"clicks" were spreading around the school and I did not want to catch it. I spent most of my time hanging with a small group of close friends that had similar interest which included mostly drawing.writing, and gaming. I was not your non-typical typical student who liked to watched The X-Files and The X-Game. Oh, I was proud that night when I saw Tony Hawk defied gravity and our minds at the same time with the flawless 900 on The X-Games. This was my life: a simple on until I made the biggest decision of my life.
During my last year of High School, a lot of Navy, Marine and Army recruits came to my high school trying to convince the senior class that we should all become " a few good men" or we should let " Let the Journey Begin" like on those commercials. It was a normal day and I just spent the day filling out a merde load of collage applications. I had not taken the SATS or ACTS yet, and I did not really like doing either of them. Therefore, those were not an option. In addition, I had a friend that was going off to the army, which at the time seemed like a good idea. Nevertheless, Would my family really want me to risk life and limb for a country that seemed ass-backwards? I would usually on occasion walk-by and speak to the Navy Recruiter. The NR was a tall man with a mustache. He was always dressed in what I would soon find out later was called A"working blues". There are two different types of "working blues". The Blue Dickey overalls or The standard blue collar dress shirt with starch dress slacks, with gave them that professional " I am the law" look. If the person were a female enlisted, the navy would give them the not too revealing skirt. Both had the same type of shoes if you watched "Mathnet" on Square One Television or Jag you will get my point. The NR was sort of fit but not too fit which lead me to believe that he was in specific job that didn't allow for much physical activity but somehow he manage to keep his body within standard regulations. The NR would always throw subtle hints at me about how navy life is, and how Navy life is, and how much fun traveling around the world was for him. On this day, I came into his office for a regular visit.
"How are you doing?" I asked Him
"Fine" He replied," You seem a little down today, is there anyway I could help?" The NR continued
The man was very perceptive. What should I say? Should I tell him that I am actually considering going to the Navy, and that I have taken the bait that I want to be, lord help me, a sailor. As I am thinking about what I was going to say, I saw a girl walk by me. She was going to see the counselor who was adjacent from where we was. You know how in the movies when time just seems to slow down on an important moment, or a character development. It was sort of like that, the young girl was a junior at my high school. I cannot remember the details about her but I do remember one thing: She was Pregnant! Is this what my life was going to be like? Was I going to end up like her if I said in this town? It was bad enough that the preggers were spreading like the plague. On top of this, Let us not forget the job opportunity, which was is zero to none. At,the time I did not see anyway out of my predicament. Since, this being a small town in Mississippi most of the people knew you. They already thought that my baby brother was my child though some kind of Immaculate Conception. Even, though they have seen me walk to school everyday. What was I suppose to do?
The NR waited patiently as contemplated in the meantime the girl disappeared into the crowded hallway of the school. I turned around and made my final decision.
"Listen, I was wondering How to join the Navy?" I asked
"You are not pulling my leg this time, You are serious?" The NR asked
"Yes" I replied
"Well, come by my office and I will set you up with the necessary papers." The couple of weeks were a whirlwind of paper signing and testing. I decided that the best thing to do was to get in physical shape. The NR helped me with the training part, and placed me into a departure program. My training in this program consisted of learning different stuff about the Navy. This program lasted until my day arrival I have finally made it to the last bit of paperwork. The NR gave me a choice of jobs to choose from but, none of them sounded interesting so I made the chose to go undesignated for the time being.
Undesignated was on of those words that meant that he or she would not be assigned a job. This was alright with me, just as long as I was leaving. What I did not know then when I signed those final papers is that my life had changed with just those few signatures. I often wonder looking back what would I have become if I didn't sign those papers. Would I have gone to collage? Maybe I would have taken that job at the hospital. Maybe I would have move to different state. There are many possibilities to what may have happen to me. Nevertheless, I know for one thing that I would have never change the experience for nothing in the world and for this I am a better person because of it.
T.L. Weston was one of those schools that could have easily been turned into high school fame or some type of drama-sitcom that you might have seen on the now defect UPN. Where did I fit into this environment? I was one of those types of people who were " under the wire" so to speak. I was the one who stayed out of trouble and I didn't any of the numerous clicks that were in the school. The"clicks" were spreading around the school and I did not want to catch it. I spent most of my time hanging with a small group of close friends that had similar interest which included mostly drawing.writing, and gaming. I was not your non-typical typical student who liked to watched The X-Files and The X-Game. Oh, I was proud that night when I saw Tony Hawk defied gravity and our minds at the same time with the flawless 900 on The X-Games. This was my life: a simple on until I made the biggest decision of my life.
During my last year of High School, a lot of Navy, Marine and Army recruits came to my high school trying to convince the senior class that we should all become " a few good men" or we should let " Let the Journey Begin" like on those commercials. It was a normal day and I just spent the day filling out a merde load of collage applications. I had not taken the SATS or ACTS yet, and I did not really like doing either of them. Therefore, those were not an option. In addition, I had a friend that was going off to the army, which at the time seemed like a good idea. Nevertheless, Would my family really want me to risk life and limb for a country that seemed ass-backwards? I would usually on occasion walk-by and speak to the Navy Recruiter. The NR was a tall man with a mustache. He was always dressed in what I would soon find out later was called A"working blues". There are two different types of "working blues". The Blue Dickey overalls or The standard blue collar dress shirt with starch dress slacks, with gave them that professional " I am the law" look. If the person were a female enlisted, the navy would give them the not too revealing skirt. Both had the same type of shoes if you watched "Mathnet" on Square One Television or Jag you will get my point. The NR was sort of fit but not too fit which lead me to believe that he was in specific job that didn't allow for much physical activity but somehow he manage to keep his body within standard regulations. The NR would always throw subtle hints at me about how navy life is, and how Navy life is, and how much fun traveling around the world was for him. On this day, I came into his office for a regular visit.
"How are you doing?" I asked Him
"Fine" He replied," You seem a little down today, is there anyway I could help?" The NR continued
The man was very perceptive. What should I say? Should I tell him that I am actually considering going to the Navy, and that I have taken the bait that I want to be, lord help me, a sailor. As I am thinking about what I was going to say, I saw a girl walk by me. She was going to see the counselor who was adjacent from where we was. You know how in the movies when time just seems to slow down on an important moment, or a character development. It was sort of like that, the young girl was a junior at my high school. I cannot remember the details about her but I do remember one thing: She was Pregnant! Is this what my life was going to be like? Was I going to end up like her if I said in this town? It was bad enough that the preggers were spreading like the plague. On top of this, Let us not forget the job opportunity, which was is zero to none. At,the time I did not see anyway out of my predicament. Since, this being a small town in Mississippi most of the people knew you. They already thought that my baby brother was my child though some kind of Immaculate Conception. Even, though they have seen me walk to school everyday. What was I suppose to do?
The NR waited patiently as contemplated in the meantime the girl disappeared into the crowded hallway of the school. I turned around and made my final decision.
"Listen, I was wondering How to join the Navy?" I asked
"You are not pulling my leg this time, You are serious?" The NR asked
"Yes" I replied
"Well, come by my office and I will set you up with the necessary papers." The couple of weeks were a whirlwind of paper signing and testing. I decided that the best thing to do was to get in physical shape. The NR helped me with the training part, and placed me into a departure program. My training in this program consisted of learning different stuff about the Navy. This program lasted until my day arrival I have finally made it to the last bit of paperwork. The NR gave me a choice of jobs to choose from but, none of them sounded interesting so I made the chose to go undesignated for the time being.
Undesignated was on of those words that meant that he or she would not be assigned a job. This was alright with me, just as long as I was leaving. What I did not know then when I signed those final papers is that my life had changed with just those few signatures. I often wonder looking back what would I have become if I didn't sign those papers. Would I have gone to collage? Maybe I would have taken that job at the hospital. Maybe I would have move to different state. There are many possibilities to what may have happen to me. Nevertheless, I know for one thing that I would have never change the experience for nothing in the world and for this I am a better person because of it.