Well, I have some exciting news to share, and I figured this
is a great place to share it even though it’s been a while. Actually, exciting
doesn’t even begin to describe the mix of emotions I am going through. Many of
you know I have applied for this program to be a pharmacist in the Navy after
graduation. For those of you who don’t, well, read the last sentence over
again.
Why? Ever since deciding I wanted a career in the medical
field, starting that career in the military has always been in the back of my
mind for 2 reasons, 1) It is very well known that they help pay for school (this
stuff is expensive) and 2) my mom was a nurse in the Air Force. I never actually
seriously considered it until a year ago when a recruiter came to school and I
said to myself “Heck, I’ll go hear what he has to say.”
Although I never grew up with a mom in the military, I’ve
always been so proud of her for her service as a nurse in the Air Force. For
those who don’t know, a few short months after she graduated college, she was
stationed near Sacramento for 3ish years. From those 3 years, she has some of
the best stories to tell, made some of her best friends, and gained some of the
most INCREDIBLE experience both professionally and personally. She was able to
go and see places she probably otherwise wouldn’t have done. She was able to
ski Squaw Valley, visit Yosemite, get a cheap military flight to Hawaii, take a
trip to Napa, and all sorts of other things. But the thing I think is the
coolest is when she is able to stand up at church when our pastor recognizes
veterans on Veteran’s Day. CHILLS I tell you.
By the time summer arrived, I found myself knee deep in the
application, MEPS physical done (I don't even know how to describe this without
going into more detail than you probably want to know), recommendations in,
background check done, fingerprinted, and convinced that the U.S. government
was now watching my every move as if they weren't already. All I had left to
complete were a statement of interest and 2 interviews. After completing my statement of interest, I
was fully on board. After my first interview over the phone, I was on my OFF
board with one foot on dry land. Everything was finally catching up to me and I
began to freak out about this and question every reason I wanted this. I
realize now it was God’s way of telling me “Wooaahhh, slow down Avery. Put on
the breaks. Take a moment to think about this and make sure you are doing it
for the right reasons.” It was very hard. I went into that last interview still
very hesitant, trying to convince my interviewer and myself I was ready for
this, and wanted it. I was praying every day and had an army praying for me too.
Over the past 6-7 months as I have sat and waited, I have
had ample time to decide what I wanted. I thought getting on this application
early would have hopefully given me an early decision. I was wrong. I’ve been
waiting for what seems like an eternity now with people asking me left and
right if I had heard back yet (which although I appreciate your excitement and
encouragement, I was growing anxious because I wanted to hear just as much as
you). But, as a result of waiting, I
came to the conclusion that as hard as this will be physically and emotionally,
this really is something I WANT TO DO.
Well waiting has finally ended and the board has recommended
me to the U.S. Navy HSCP for Pharmacy. I will be given a salary for my last two
years of pharmacy school, beginning this August with the title “Petty Officer”.
Upon graduation in 2016, I will go off to Officer Development School in
Newport, RI for 5 weeks to become a Lieutenant (which is an O3 in the Navy),
then off to what we hope to be one of the 3 big Navy hospitals in San Diego,
CA, Portsmouth, VA, or Bethesda, MD. I will owe 3 years of active duty in
return.
I’ll say it again, this is something I really want to do,
and I am really excited about it. But it is also terrifying. I think to myself
some days, “Oh my gosh, I will be joining the military. Who am I?” After all,
I’m this preppy little white girl (who still feels like she is 16-not any where
old enough to make a decision like this), likes being independent, likes being
able to tell people NO, likes wearing the jewelry and clothes she wants, wants
to meet a boy and fall in love, and doesn't like getting her feelings hurt. But
those who really know me know I am also very structured and routine oriented
(thanks Mom), doesn’t have a problem with authority, am a team player, and
hopefully wise beyond her years (haha not really). And there are plenty of men
in the military J.
As I move forward over the next two and a half years, I ask
that you pray for me. I ask that you pray for me physically, so that I may endure
physical training and 4:00am mornings at ODS for 5 weeks and stay in military
shape over the 3 years. I ask that you pray for me emotionally, so that I may
be strong in a new place and to getting my feelings hurt. I ask that you pray
for me professionally that this experience is truly unmatched anywhere else and
that I find an area of pharmacy I want to be in for a long time. I ask for you
to pray for my heart to continue love and want to serve my fellow soldiers and the
country I love. But mostly, I ask that
you pray for me spiritually. I know this will be the most trying time in my
faith with moving somewhere new and not knowing anyone; however, it is
something I feel I need to do to make my faith stronger. It will make me
completely and utterly reliant on God. Pray for me to find a good church family
to support me and grow with me.
Thanks, I already feel them working,
Avery
