<p>yep: it’s gotta be up to the kid. you hear that alot here… if you dont wanna be here for your own reasons, if you’re not the one who provides the motivation, you wont last. just a fact of life… but, if it IS something you want to do, not because of mom/dad/neighbors/community, you get to experience some amazing things. </p>
<p>like today, coming down from eagle’s peak w/ my squad and a few upperclassmen… these guys stopped us and asked “hey, are yall academy cadets?” (we were in ABUs… duh haha 
) and he asked if we would take a picture with him, then thanked us for serving our country. even though we arent doing much right now to serve, we will be… and it’s really awesome just to talk to civilians when you’re by the chapel and try to explain things that they have questions about… there’s a certain amount of happiness, or just some feeling that boils up when some random stranger stops you and says “thanks.” but you can never experience that unless you know for a fact that coming here is your own decision, for your own reasons</p>