For the past, oh, couple of weeks, I've been in this very perplexing situation. It goes something like this: I'm single, six months from graduation, I need a job to support myself, and one option is to join the military. In a passing glance, it doesn't seem perplexing at all. But it is. When talking to any good, decent guy, and the words "I went and talked to a recruiter today" (or last week, or I'm thinking about it, etc.) come out of my mouth, I know the conversation is just about over, or if not, whatever good graces had been acheived are now lost. This is why my current situation is so perplexing - most (and I say most, because I know that somewhere out there is someone awesome who won't think this way, but instead will say, "you go girl!") decent mormon guys want a girl who is going to stay at home. I totally agree. That's what I've wanted to do since I could think for myself. But there comes a time, when maybe that just won't work, or maybe won't happen, or won't happen for an unknown amount of time. When this time comes, and you realize "Shoot. I can't just graduate and call that good. I need to make something of myself, I need to support myself" you start looking at your options. And for whatever reason, the particular path you want to take just happens to involve the need for experience which you don't have, but which a 4 year active duty commitment could give you, and the more you look into it, the better it seems, on so many different levels. What is a girl to do? I don't know.
One of my brothers told me that the moment a guy finds out what I'm looking into (and please don't get all worried here, I'm not decided yet, it's just an OPTION) they'll be intimidated. It's true. Just last night, I was talking to a guy, and asked him about that, he agreed. My only rebuttal is - "What am I supposed to say when they ask what I want to do after graduation? Sit around in P-vo and wait?" Um, no. I personally believe that is wrong. There's so much to do and see, and make of oneself that I've got to get out of this place. And the more I've thought about this "intimidating" factor (I'm getting on my soap box now), the more I think to myself, "if a guy is intimidated by the fact that I have ambition, and perhaps he doesn't, than we have a problem." (stepping off of soap box)
I think the main thing people don't understand about me is that I don't want to make the military a career if I go that direction. I'll do my four years, get out and get a civilian job (or stay at home, as the case may be). It's a hard situation. What am I supposed to do? Will someone please tell me where the happy medium is?
