Settled, Not Done. by Caitlin

Settled, Not Done. by Caitlin - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

10 years. 2025.
I am on my way home from work, suffering through another round of horrendous Tampa traffic. Yet, I wouldn't trade the commute for anything, working for the VA has been my dream job since I decided to go back to college, something I never would have been able to achieve it without all that hard work and sacrifice.
I pull into the winding driveway of our recently purchased home, and I pause for a moment to admire every inch of it. We may have had a later start in planting roots, but the military didn't afford us the luxury of consistency and familiarity. Since my husbands medical retirement from the Army we have relished in staying in one spot for more than 3 years, being able to see family, our kids growing up with the other children in the neighborhood and going to bed at night knowing there wasn't going to be another year long goodbye tomorrow. Yes, we may have had a later start, but boy it sure feels just as good.
My husband is already home as I step inside and we compare work days. He too works for the VA, in their IT department, and I, in medical administration. The kids are excitedly showing us photos from their field trip to MOSI.
We both worked extremely hard to be exactly where we wanted to be in our life and career. Sure, we hit some hurdles on the way, but what would the journey be without a little challenge? We were an Army family for 10 years, we had alternative routes planned before anything had a chance to catch us off guard. We made goals, both for us and our children, and we're seeing them manifest into a beautiful reality.
Still, it wasn't easy to get here. In fact, we're still fighting to find the balance of everything. Transitioning from the military to civilian world 5 years ago was hard enough. Add in both my husband and I going to school, me working, and there were absolutely times where throwing the towel in seemed like it was only one more mid-term away. I knew had to push through and give it my all. I knew that college was going to give me the best shot at providing the kind of life I wanted my kids to have and I wanted to give them an example of what dedication, dreams, and a good support system can do. College taught me so much more than just curriculum. It taught me time management, patience, acceptance, maturity. It revealed nothing was going to be handed to me so I had to go out there and get it. I had to deserve it.
Now, I do deserve it. I worked, I cried, I frustrated myself, and I balanced. I'm exhausted, but I am so proud of myself. I look around and realize I did it. Everything was worth it. Everything paid off. That doesn't mean I stop. I have to continue pushing myself, I have to continue striving for more. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do this, because 10 years ago I didn't have the opportunities that I do now. I am happy, I am content, but I am not complacent. I have a home filled with love from my amazing family, I have my dream job, and I have 10 years to building blocks that led me here.
10 years ago, this story would have looked entirely different.