<p>Even though this is the motto of a different branch of service, your post epitomizes it: “Adapt, Improvise and Overcome”!</p>
<p>Here’s to you and your courage. You are definitely going places in this world. Please ignore the clueless comments of Mohuho.</p>
<p>Thank you for your sacrifice for our country and our freedoms, and for taking the time to so eloquently tell your story!</p>
<p>Is this a sympathy post? B/c that’s what it seems like after reading your experience.</p>
<p>Regardless of the money you or your parents had, you could have gone many different ways as opposed to joining the army. But in the end, it was YOU that chose to go to Iraq, and it was YOU that got compensated for it.</p>
<p>That’s great that your time in Iraq has changed you, but let’s apply your same principal to yourself… You think you had it bad? What about those soliders coming back without a leg or arm? What about those soldiers that died over there? You think killing one man was rough? What about those kids in iraq that kill many?</p>
<p>I value and appreciate your time served for this country, but when it all comes down to it your situation is no different than ours; you are luckier than most and take that for granted.</p>
<p>I agree, gstein.</p>
<p>I beg to differ with gstein. I think you’re a very selfish and bitter person. (Gstein, not the OP) and have an axe to grind with the military.</p>
<p>He lives in a totally different world than you guys and he’s basically saying that there are more important things in life than getting rejected from HYPS or whatever. He’s saying that some of the people who have died, would’ve loved to be in an institution of higher education no matter what the name is. Thank your lucky stars and enjoy life and whatever comes your way. I agree with the OP 100% since I’ve been there (not in the military, but realizing his point after I got waitlisted and rejected from my top school last year).</p>
<p>You’re just a high school kid and you don’t know **** about the military or what our servicemen and women go through. Try talking to a Marine, Sailor, Soldier, or Airman. Maybe their stories will make you realize that you are a disgrace to America and everything it stands for and that you have done nothing in your sorry life. What brave things have you done besides asking a girl out? </p>
<p>You’re just a selfish, spoiled little snot and you better get over yourself or else college is going to kick your ass. People don’t put up with that kind of attitude in college and you’re in for a rude awakening.</p>
<p>It makes me wonder how little punks like you get into the top colleges. You guys don’t deserve to be there, those who have defended our country and our freedoms deserve your spot. </p>
<p>People with viewpoints like Gstein’s make me absolutely sick and for that, people like gstein don’t even deserve to go to college. </p>
<p>Sorry to everyone else for this post, I’ve never been so enraged by someone’s post because I know a lot of Marines who would’ve loved to enjoy the things that people overlook and take for granted.</p>
<p>gsyrein, he was trying to make a point. You really need to chill out. It wasn’t a sympathy post, we has trying to put things into perspective for some of these people.</p>
<p>Smurfgirl! Yes! -high 5-</p>
<p>I wanted to say what you said, Susan R.</p>
<p>Who would I hire for a job (I used to be in that position at Eastman Kodak)?</p>
<p>duh</p>
<p>not whiny babies like some of the above posters, that’s for sure</p>
<p>again, my hat is off to OP and others like him.</p>
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<p>Wow. I am speechless. Thanks.</p>
<p>Just to let you know Susan, my freedom is not at stake over in Iraq. This war is not about saving the sanctity of our freedom. Talk about ignorance.</p>
<p>Smurf, considering I have many friends and family in service currently and in the past…I think I do know something about the military. Not to mention I’ve been recruited by the army.</p>
<p>Then why the military bashing? You did not say one nice thing to the OP. Your post was full of hatred and ignorance, not appreciation.</p>
<p>So based on that, I think you’re lying about being recruited by the Army. Also, most people who have had family serve in the military are proud of that fact and do not dare insult another servicemember’s service.</p>
<p>Why would the OP be looking for sympathy?</p>
<p>GSTEIN What you may not realize or choose not to agree with is this. Your freedom is indeed at stake. The war in terrorism can be fought over there or on our own land, take your pick. 9/11 decided that. You should be thanking those that choose to enlist so that cowards such as yourself may not ever have to. I find it hard to believe that you come from a military family because your values are so jaded. You can oppose the war but please don’t attempt to devalue the price that these brave men paid and still pay so that you can spew your misguided rhetoric in the comfort of your home.</p>
<p>Since I have a feeling that my rant will be deleted and/or edited because it was a little over the top, I will put this in nicer terms.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to Marines and other servicemembers about their lives and told them about mine. We live in 2 totally different worlds. I had to explain the workings of a cafeteria and dormitories and who RA’s were. They had to explain to me, the courses they take in the academy (like electronic warfare) and codenames. I explained to them about the ACTs/SATs and they explained to me the ASVAB and boot camp. Civilians and servicemembers live in different worlds and the OP was pointing that out.</p>
<p>They know that their buddies who have died in combat would’ve loved to experience the things I experience, like going to college. The OP is saying that the people who aren’t living in the best circumstances or the men and women who died, would’ve loved to gone to an institution of higher learning whether it be Moo U or Oxford University. He/She is saying to not take things for granted and to be <em>thankful</em> that you are actually attending a university. </p>
<p>IN NO WAY was the OP asking for sympathy, and again, I think gstein has an axe to grind to begin with. The OP said he/she was in tears when he/she set foot at the university (and acknowledged that a lot of people gave him/her funny looks) because <em>hello</em>, it’s different than being shot at and having to go a few days without food. He was thankful for doing something his/her buddies and Iraqi children never had the chance to do. </p>
<p>Geez, I didn’t think it could be any clearer than that, but I was wrong.</p>
<p>wow ppl need to stop being so rude. just because someone expresses a different viewpoint and doesn’t agree with u doesnt mean u have to flame them</p>
<p>Please quote my so called “hatred” in my post. All i said was the army was his choice, and that people have had it more rough than him. Maybe I stated it too direct, but that’s a very realistic view.</p>
<p>Susan, the war on terrorism will never end. Terrorists are not in one country, but in many including the one we live in. Saddam is gone, so why are we sending more troups to Iraq? If we were really at war against terrorism, why aren’t we in North Korea?</p>
<p>Some of you seem to think that b/c I question his intentions in making this thread that I have no respect for the military, well I seem to recall saying that I valued and appreciated his time spent serving this country. That’s not insulting his service nor devaluing it.</p>
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<p>wow some ppl need to respect the choices that others have made. its their life not urs. </p>
<p>It’s kind of hard to take your post seriously when you speak internet language. I’ll take your post seriously when you sound like a college bound student and not a 13 year old as I have no time to argue with 13 year olds.</p>
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<p>You say you value his/her service but then turn around and say he’s selfish. Therefore, you are insulting him/her and his/her service.</p>
<p>You’re backpedaling since the only person who is backing you up on your posts is bishounen.</p>
<p>I guess I’m going to take the risk of being called “un-American” and a “disgrace” to everything that America stands for, but whatever, Label me however you guys want, but I don’t give a crap since I know that I’m NOT un-American and that I LOVE this country. I personally hate it when people are so nationalistic that they instantly pounce on someone for being un-American and a disgrace when they say anything that is contrary to the mainstream patriotism opinion; someone posted earlier that they wish that someone was in FRONT of the troops if that person didn’t want to support them from behind. This type of extreme nationalism scares me, and I’m shocked that you don’t find such a statement as disgusting, if not more disgusting, than the statement that originally led you to say these horrible words (But that’s what nationalism does to some people).</p>
<p>NOTE: I do NOT agree with gstein as far as his sense (at least what I’m getting) that he has an axe to grind with the military. I have NOTHING against the military, and I think it’s ridiculous for anyone to say that the OP posted what he posted just for sympathy.</p>
<p>Anyway, what I just want to say is that you can’t always tell everyone to put everything into perspective just because there are people in worser conditions out there. I agree with gstein’s statement (but please do not flame me as being un-American, that I am NOT; let’s please try to discuss this in a civil manner). I have the utmost sympathy and support for our troops helping children that would die for a chance to experience something that Americans tend to take for granted (the institution of public education). However, you can’t just always tell everyone to shut it (I’m not saying that you’re telling all of these rejected students to shut it, but rather telling them to put things into perspective) with the argument that there’s someone out there with bigger troubles. Where would we be if we always applied this logic when someone complained about something? At what point do we stop always making these comparisons? Yes, we’re all VERY lucky and fortunate to live in such a great country as America that whole-heartedly supports education, but do we always have to stop and think about those that are in a worser condition than us?</p>
<p>NOW HANG ON THERE! With the nature of this thread and where it has been going, I know that this statement might cause some people to jump to conclusions and call me some nasty things. There’s nothing wrong with being concerned about others that are in worser conditions. I believe America, as the strongest economic nation in the world, is obligated to help those less fortunate. HOWEVER, do we have to be burdened all the time with feeling guilty because we’re fortunate enough to live in such a great land of opportunities, unlike others? Ugh, I don’t know how to explain this without some of you guys thinking I’m a soulless, selfish, “disgrace” to America…if a girl’s father broke his neck and she’s crying in sadness, are you going to tell her to put everything in perspective and quit her complaining because there’s a girl out there who’s had her entire family raped and murdered (I’m trying to get the ratio between the two events here the same as the one the OP is using; I think the difference in magnitude is roughly the same between the two events as between the OP’s situation and people here complaining about not getting into their dream schools). Do you kind of get what I’m trying to say? It’s rather convenient for someone to bring up the point that people are worse off in other countries whenever someone here complains about something. “My dog died :(” “So? This Iraqi girl’s whole family was murdered and raped in front of her eyes. Quit your b!tching,” that’s kind of what I mean. It’s such a burden that we Americans have to face that we are under constant scrutiny and aren’t allowed to b!tch or cry about anything because the person next to you will call you selfish and ignorant because someone else in another country is in a MUCH worser situation than you. People in America have lived here for a long time and have accustomed become to its economic/political situations, so we have developed our own expectations in THIS country, which is why I find it annoying that some people like to point out that people are in a worser condition elsewhere whenever someone here is disappointed relative to a completely VALID expectation in THIS country (For example, someone here moping about not getting that promotion he’s been working so hard for, then someone telling that person to quit his b!tching because there are people out there working as slaves and are getting nothing in return).</p>
<p>NOW that I’ve said all that, I need to reiterate that I am NOT anti-American, ignorant, or a disgrace to a country or any of that jazz that extreme nationalist like to label/accuse people with. I highly respect our soldiers in Iraq and their efforts to spread the wonders of democracy where they are needed the most. I really appreciate your post and I feel it DID help me put everything to perspective to some extent (I’m been worrying about whether going to UCSD will be aiming too low and limit my opportunities compared to going to Berkeley). I agree that a lot of people here tend to take college admissions and what not WAY too seriously (I’ve seen a lot of people here get rejected from a college and then start flaming everyone and belittling the college that they got rejected from). I thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting us fortunate individuals in this great country, and for helping to spread what makes this country so great to people that have never had a taste of democracy and actual PEACE before. 9/11 really changed things here, and I’m incredibly thankful that the war isn’t being fought here on our front. I’m not brave enough as our soldiers to go into arms and fight for such a great country [fighting for a great country for not only themselves, but EVERYONE ELSE in America; fighting for our country is the most selfless thing a man can do, and I applaud you for your bravery to do so], so I thank you for your service.</p>
<p>To those that want to reply to my post, I really hope we can keep this discussion civil and that we can refrain from name-calling and insults (like calling people a disgrace to America, or saying that they deserve to be shot by the U.S. Army).</p>
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<p>i wasnt taking his side i just dont like it when ppl cannot hold a serious argument without attacking others</p>
<p>I never said my opinion was right. Maybe you should read the post where I calmed down a little bit and organized my thoughts better. But how is gstein’s opinon right? </p>
<p>But if you never served and know nothing about warfare, how can you argue with someone who has served (i.e. the OP)?</p>
<p>God bless you! My eyes are filled with tears. You have stately so articulately what each of us needs to hear to some degree or other…we are the luckiest people in the world even in the most unsettling of times. We whine and complain too much, and we don’t truly appreciate how fortunate we are to have the freedom and opportunities we do. Love each other. Do good deeds. Make the world a better place. It’s sad to see today’s youth so shallow and self-absorbed. What a wonderful person you are. All the success and happiness to you in your journey through life! :)</p>