“You are making a big mistake and ruining your life” – not the response I expected from my Dallas teachers, friends and family after announcing my future plans after high school. Who can blame them? I gave up a $60,000 academic scholarship to Southern Methodist University in my hometown to join the military. I wanted to experience the world on my own, challenge my beliefs, and move away from my comfort zone.

My plan was to be an Army Reservist, become a civil engineer with my Texas A&M academic scholarship, followed by a commission using a three-year Army ROTC scholarship. My perfect plan became a guideline until I found my niche.

I joined the military under a “split-option training program” that allowed me to do my initial training during the summers of my junior and senior year of high school in training. Then, I headed to Aggieland to prepare for indoctrination in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

Eventually, the schoolwork, year-long pressures of indoctrination, and the monthly bus ride home to do Soldier training with my Reserve unit took a toll on my first semester grades. I bounced back the second semester despite a three-week long deployment to Belize with my Reserve unit during the Spring. The short duty in Belize where my unit built schools for children while interacting with the villagers changed my outlook and life choices.

I gave back my three-year Army ROTC scholarship to Cadet Command, finished my first year, and left Texas A&M to pursue a career in the active Army as an enlisted Soldier.

I spent my first three years on active duty as a carpenter and mason in engineer units. I deployed to Macedonia for six months with 300 infantry men, our small group of engineers, and a handful of women making up Task Force Able Sentry in 1994.

During my deployment, a military photojournalist snapped a photo of me shoveling cement to build a foundation for the Able Sentry chapel. I befriended the journalist and through her I discovered my passion for the next 15 years in public affairs.

During my career, I also served in various jobs. My most exhausting was as an Army drill sergeant leaving very little time for my daughter, Laura. But it was a very humbling experience where you learn to make the most of every minute. I also deployed to combat twice for year-long deployments — once to Iraq in 2006 to work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as a press officer and my most recent deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 as a first sergeant for a detachment of print and broadcast journalists. The Soldiers made the job as a first sergeant worthwhile.

While serving at various locations throughout the world, I also maximized the Army’s Tuition Assistance earning my undergraduate degree in English and graduate degree in Education. My post 9/11 GI Bill veteran benefits are available for another degree after retirement or for my daughter to use for her education.

As each year passes, my love for the military grows despite an occasional obstacle that rears its ugly head. I’ve dealt with bad bosses and some ethical battles. The key to surviving is not allowing people’s negative opinions or actions affect you to the point that you give up on yourself or take on toxic leadership traits. The challenge with every negative experience is figuring out how to turn it into an opportunity. When self-defeating thoughts start to creep in, I just visualize looking out through a “different window” and one day getting in a position to make a change for the better.

As for the naysayers who thought the military was a mistake, they became a part of my support network. With only a couple of months to retirement eligibility, I am rethinking my teenage choices for new adult ones – the sky is the limit.