Hello all,
I have posted only a few times, mostly with questions on "what to do now" type things, because of an unfortunate lapse in judgement on my and a couple of my friends parts one day in late October. I am still dealing with the effects of that day now, four months later in the court system, and in my daily life. Then and now, I couldnt believe how stupid I was, but more so I couldnt believe how I lost everything I wanted for my post high school life. I went from going to the USNA summer seminar to being arrested, in a couple of months. I feel like a middle aged man looking back on things he wished he did/didnt do in life. But the fact is, I am now 18, with life still ahead of me. I dont want to be that middle aged man one day. I am looking at the positive side of things, even though that is very hard considering everything use to be much more positive. However, I learned alot from the experience. I now truely understand right from wrong in daily life, and to not judge people no matter what I hear because I now know just because I heard a rumor, I do not know the persons whole story. This event changed my entire perspective on life for the most part. I regained my Catholic faith through all of this. Going to confession for the first time in a decade, with all of this on my mind, was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I now appreciate much of the things I use to take for granted. Even with how tragic the event was in regards to my future, I hope it always stays close on my mind to remind me of these things.
Now looking at my future, I have decided to accept my offer of admission to what has been my dream non-military (USNA) university, the University of Rochester and most likely study International Relations. I know it is a perfect fit for me. It was my number one school for my NROTC application, but honestly, I didnt feel like I was going to get into this school. Everything was looking bad for my future for a while, hell, even the local Marine Corps recruiter wont talk to me about enlistment because apparently for the corps, even if a felony is dropped to a misdemeanor, it is considered a felony and bars enlistment. But when I got the acceptance letter to U of R earlier this month, I took it as a sign that there is still hope for myself. Even though I could of been going to this $40,000 a year university for free, I consider myself lucky to still have the opportunity to attend. Even if I graduate with over $50,000 in loans, I did what I really wanted to do with the options I had. I will not be kicking myself later in life for going to a cheaper school that I really did not want to attend. I will still look into joining the school's NROTC unit, if they would even let me with my situation. Just judging this with how the Marine recruiter dealt with me, they probably will not. Even though my entire life I thought the military was all I wanted, maybe this is all part of God's plan for me, to find another calling. I dont know. But I do know that the Navy is missing out on a much more mature person.
This rant is mostly for myself, to just write my feelings out where people can see it. But I feel this can also be used by others here who maybe did not get the scholarship or did not get into the school they dreamed of, to show them that there is always still hope for yourself.
-Matt
I have posted only a few times, mostly with questions on "what to do now" type things, because of an unfortunate lapse in judgement on my and a couple of my friends parts one day in late October. I am still dealing with the effects of that day now, four months later in the court system, and in my daily life. Then and now, I couldnt believe how stupid I was, but more so I couldnt believe how I lost everything I wanted for my post high school life. I went from going to the USNA summer seminar to being arrested, in a couple of months. I feel like a middle aged man looking back on things he wished he did/didnt do in life. But the fact is, I am now 18, with life still ahead of me. I dont want to be that middle aged man one day. I am looking at the positive side of things, even though that is very hard considering everything use to be much more positive. However, I learned alot from the experience. I now truely understand right from wrong in daily life, and to not judge people no matter what I hear because I now know just because I heard a rumor, I do not know the persons whole story. This event changed my entire perspective on life for the most part. I regained my Catholic faith through all of this. Going to confession for the first time in a decade, with all of this on my mind, was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I now appreciate much of the things I use to take for granted. Even with how tragic the event was in regards to my future, I hope it always stays close on my mind to remind me of these things.
Now looking at my future, I have decided to accept my offer of admission to what has been my dream non-military (USNA) university, the University of Rochester and most likely study International Relations. I know it is a perfect fit for me. It was my number one school for my NROTC application, but honestly, I didnt feel like I was going to get into this school. Everything was looking bad for my future for a while, hell, even the local Marine Corps recruiter wont talk to me about enlistment because apparently for the corps, even if a felony is dropped to a misdemeanor, it is considered a felony and bars enlistment. But when I got the acceptance letter to U of R earlier this month, I took it as a sign that there is still hope for myself. Even though I could of been going to this $40,000 a year university for free, I consider myself lucky to still have the opportunity to attend. Even if I graduate with over $50,000 in loans, I did what I really wanted to do with the options I had. I will not be kicking myself later in life for going to a cheaper school that I really did not want to attend. I will still look into joining the school's NROTC unit, if they would even let me with my situation. Just judging this with how the Marine recruiter dealt with me, they probably will not. Even though my entire life I thought the military was all I wanted, maybe this is all part of God's plan for me, to find another calling. I dont know. But I do know that the Navy is missing out on a much more mature person.
This rant is mostly for myself, to just write my feelings out where people can see it. But I feel this can also be used by others here who maybe did not get the scholarship or did not get into the school they dreamed of, to show them that there is always still hope for yourself.
-Matt
