A
male
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I'm 25 years old and will be getting out of the active duty military next week and returning to civilian life. I'll still be serving part time with a reserve unit back home though. Thanks to the GI bill I'll be going back to school in the fall and am really excited to start working on my degree again. At the same time I'm feeling really anxious and a little nervous about this whole transition. On one side of things I am looking forward to getting away from military life and you for sure won't hear me complain about not having to put in eighty hour work weeks anymore. On the other side of things, while I have successfully kept in touch with a few good friends over the years, I feel like I'm years behind them in life. I feel like I've been left in the dust while I've given the first half of my 20s to Uncle Sam. Everyone I know back home has already graduated college, is working full time, married, and moved into a place of their own.Here I am, moving back in with my parents because I have nowhere else to go, just getting a start in college, and never dated before let alone ever kissed a girl. That last one's really been weighing on my mind lately. I feel awkward enough around my friends, I'm worried about being out of place in college because I'm getting a late start. Any thoughts?
View related questions:
military, moved in Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, SillyB +, writes (1 May 2011):
 Yes, I see where you are coming from.
However, one of the best doctors I work with has a similar background. He was in the army, left at 25. Went to a small college - UC, Santa Cruz I believe. Got a super high GPA and graduated at age 29. Applied to Medical schools (lots of programs keep extra spots for ex military) - got into Harvard medical school (they keep extra spots for military) and graduated at 33. Says he met his best friends in med school. Did a 2/3 year residency and was done school by his mid 30's (just like all other docs). He said that he might not have been as driven and organized if he hadn't gone to the military.
There are lots of stories like yours. Find a mentor who has a similar background, ask questions and create a plan. AT 25 life is just beginning...you had a totally different early 20's experience which is of significant value in the real world. If we all went to college at 18 it would be a boring world out there...
|
