Smokey Bear Hats

So today while watching the VMA's i noticed how the Army sponsored the award show. So like any sponsor, they include commercials sponsoring their "product"- in this case: army officers. Now, hoping that i actually get into these academies of the military sort, i found these advertisements way too convincing. One about a man who attended college, got involved in his colleges ROTC program, then graduated as an Army officer. The benefits this fictional character may have reaped are enormous. Great pay, a job they enjoy, and support for and by his own country. Great right? Right.

But me, living in a middle class neighborhood with three other mouths to feed, it's pretty tough to hope to get into college. Money wise, it's a roller coaster adventure for my parents. With one parent working and both parents who lived more carfree than they should have in the 90's (i have no savings account) being college bound turns into scholarship bound.

Sometimes i check in now and then with my mom, hoping she replies differently to this age-long question.

"Is there money in my savings account?"

"No, no, no..you have no money in your account. You don't even have one"

*i sigh*

How in the world does she ever expect me to go to college? Answer to that-she doesn't. Knowing my history in JROTC and a retired Navy dad, she was hoping I'd enlist. ENLIST?!? Boot camp, boot camp, boot camp.

Like the movies, boot camp is how it seems. Big scary men in smokey bear hats yelling in your face about your momma and crawling through difficult courses with other team mates at your side. The idea of actually being able to join the military is not what concerns me. I planned on doing that anyway. However my main goal was to go to college. Either go to a military academy (which is college), go through an ROTC scholarship (I get paid to go to college by the government and i graduate as an officer when i stay in that colleges ROTC program), or go to college then switch over to either enlisted or an academy related program. But going straight enlisted was never my intended plan.

I suppose I'm just going to have to try and improve my school work and see how far that will take me money wise. But for now, I'm pretty much a recruit all over again. This honestly makes my day. Sarcasm intended.