Hey Rhager,
This is my first post on NukeWorker and I would like to introduce myself to all of you "out there.β I have spent days on the NukeWorker forum as a guest and would first like to express my appreciation for all of the information you have presented. My name is Andrew, I'm 21, went to Penn State for two years, worked at a nuclear power plant as an intern during my summers, dropped out of school, and am currently working at a hospital while finishing my associates in engineering at a local community college.
Rhager, I wanted to let you know that we all make mistakes. Whether it is legal trouble or academic, we are all young and dumb at one point or another. Nevertheless, do not kick yourself in the butt with a negative mindset. Almost a year ago, I turned to the military with the thought that they would provide discipline in my life. I never managed my time or set priorities, goals, and tasks while going to school (or at any point in my life, to be honest.)
I have always wanted to be a Marine, and it just so happened that at the time of my despair, a close friend of mine was working a recruiting detail at my local Marine Corps Recruiting Station. He had intimate knowledge of my troubles and one day I inquired about responsibility and discipline in the Corps, and the prospect of joining the Marine Corps Select Reserve (Active) for the installment and application of those qualities in my future civilian life. He immediately advised me that six months of boot camp and IT/SOI does not a man make. Furthermore, enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve doesn't guarantee you a slot in the Active side (in fact, you must serve for a minimum of 2 years with your reserve unit before you can even put your transfer paperwork in). Therefore, by enlisting in the MCSR, I would have done my unit and myself a disservice with 18-66 months of "I want to go Active" and "I'm in the same situation that I was in before, minus 1 weekend of the month and 2 weeks out of a year.β
I was desperate to and adamant about join the Corps. What else was I supposed to do? I was at the end of the line. I had nowhere to go and nothing to work towards - no GOALS. Nothing in life was important to me and everything seemed unimportant.
However, something eventually clicked with me - it was not that day, or even that month. My friend said to me "Andrew, if you fall on your face, you need to get back up, admit that you fell on your face, and keep running."
And so, I got back up. I admitted to myself that I fell on my face. And day by day, I made a schedule for myself (from brushing my teeth/hygiene, to work and school and commute and TV and surfing NukeWorker. It does not have to be down to the minute, but whatever you write - adhere to it!) I slipped a few times but eventually I got to a point where I knew what I had to do and I just did it. I found the motivation in wanting to better myself. It is a weird concept, because I had always been working FOR something or someone other than myself.
Today, I am on-track to finish my associates degree by December 19 and ship to boot camp in April with a nuke contract. I took the steps necessary to fix the problem in myself - without outside influence - and chose a path that will put me on track to success if I maintain this corrected attitude.
If you want the two cents of a stranger, it is my humble opinion that you continue with your education - even if it's a self-paced on-line class at the University of North Dakota - get your transcript, and discipline yourself because you want to do it, not because you have to. Make an active choice to alter your lifestyle and join the Navy or Marine Corps because itβs your choice, not because you have to. As I've experienced in my line of work and read here on the NukeWorker forums, you can dress a piece of sh*t in a uniform, but in the end he will act and perform at a level consistent with that of a piece of sh*t.
Thanks again for your time and the information that you present on this website - it has been an extraordinary help. Rhager, I wish you the best of luck with all of your endeavors.