Posted by laima on October 7, 2006, at 0:38:27 [reposted on October 8, 2006, at 13:45:17 | original URL]
In reply to Re: And I'm confused by something else..., posted by rjlockhart on October 6, 2006, at 23:43:28
Matt, I hear the military is no joke. It's very serious, very dangerous, and I understand can be very traumatic-to say the least. I only hear this second and third hand or farther-or via media- but I just don't want you to do it. Sounds like a lot of people here care for you very much and don't want you to do it, either. In case of need to escape your situation, can you go to a college town and set yourself up until you can eventually enroll in a few classes to learn a trade or become a scholar even? (And did you know you have a way with words?) That might be a better option. The living is cheap, and you'd meet plenty of other people your own age, and many from troubled family backgrounds. You would likely find some great new friends with whom you'd have much in common. Lots of kids looking for roomates- all cheap! It could be really fun. You may be quite surprised, as I myself was once I got to college. Not all young people in college towns are enrolled in college yet either, if that is a concern of yours. Many gravitate there for the same sorts of reasons you describe. You are in Texas? Have you considered checking out Austin, or some of the other towns? Maybe someone else here on the board knows Texas better than I do and might have an idea to toss in? It's not like you couldn't join the military later if you still felt it the right thing to do. Just please dont rush!!!!!! If you do it, be prepared, calm, and resolved. NOT rushed or out of desperation. PLEASE. Don't find yourself in combat, or maimed, or terrified- and wonder what you did this for, how you got there. Angrier than ever at your mom. Don't come home missing limbs, beating yourself up for being impulsive. That can happen, you know it can. Now THAT would be a tragedy. Military recruiters, I understand, are specially trained in persuasive tactics to get enough people to sign up to meet their quotas. They have a reputation of preying on the desperate. You have a lot of stress. And you are a sensitive person. Anyone would be stressed in your situation. I hear you asking for advice- don't ask the recruiter for advice, PLEASE. YOU ARE NOT SHARING AN AGENDA. This might not be the time to mess with them, the recruiters. Matt, by all accounts the wars are becoming very dangerous and hellacious, and may even be escalating. Men and women who go there in *perfect* health suffer meltdowns and worse. Please, reconsider. As Colbert darkly joked, "those wars aren't going anywhere- they'll still be there later and there might even be some new ones." If I've said anything inappropriate in this post and get banned forever, it's still worth it to me to just beg you to reconsider this notion of joining the military. Please be well, and let's brainstorm some alternatives for you. That Coastguard idea seems like a decent alternative-a good idea- but I still wonder if it might not be good for you to first take a year or two of chilling out, on your own, without your mom, surrounded by your peers. Even if it's delivering pizzas- just to take the time on your own to get to know yourself as an independent adult. If you worry over health insurance-did you know Starbucks gives FULL health insurance to anyone who works just 20 hours per week? I'm sure they are no longer the only ones. Get the dex, stabilize. I'm not talking fantasy, my life was no piece of cake at your age either. I scoffed snarlily at people who were a little bit older and told me it would get much better and clearer as I became more independent and relaxed, but I see now they were right. No, I'm still hardly perfect, but in general, life has improved enormously and I know myself much better now- and so can you. I think history may repeat itself. Be well, Matt.
poster:laima
thread:691924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20061005/msgs/693011.html