Blog 3 - Brianna Chancay
Semper Fi
Both my mother and father served in the United States Marine Corps. My mother served 10 years and my father served 20 years. I guess looking back on it now being raised by two very successful hard core Marines wasn’t easy but it was all I ever knew. What this meant for me was that I had to be strong enough mentally and emotionally to be okay on my own. With, two parents constantly gone, there were months sometimes years at a time where I couldn't see one parent and at times, both. Although this may be difficult for many of you to understand, it was because of their sacrifice to our nation why I had no other option but to be independent, confident and strong not only for myself but for them as well; all things that I was more than capable and equipped to be and am today.
Growing up, my family and I relocated religiously. It’s sort of ironic in the sense that I can’t stay in one place too long, I almost feel like I outgrow places, things, and even situations because my entire life I have been accustomed to moving so frequently I never really had the opportunity to “plant roots” anywhere; which I was always okay with. The Marine Corps has definitely taken part as an influential factor in my childhood and young adulthood in shaping how I see and navigate through the world because having the privilege of living in so many different places formed my diversity in people, culture, societies, languages and experiences. For a majority part of my life I lived all up and down the east coast so when I moved here 6 years too long ago I experienced a major cultural shock like never before. It’s amazing what moving from coast to coast can do to a person but believe me when I tell you moving here to California from Miami, Florida was quite the change.
What the Marine Corps also did for me was show me that life wasn’t just about me. It meant that I’d be a mother at the very young age of 7. When my little brother came along in 2005 his life now become my responsibility. This meant that I needed to grow up a lot faster than what I imagined my childhood to look like. I was feeding, changing diapers and raising my little brother while many of you were playing with toys and outside with the neighborhood kids. Two years later my little sister came along so now when many of you were having sleepovers or hanging out with the boys I was at home cooking dinner and teaching my little brother and sister how to read and write mean while I too still had to balance being in junior high. This is something that has always made me a little emotional because I never really got the childhood experiences many of others did and when it came to the point that mattered a little bit during high school while my friends where out at parties and social events I was at parent conferences and PTSA meetings and running back and forth from doctors appointments to football practices. There were many times that I spoke down on the Marine Corps but I realized that it wasn’t just about me, it never was. My sacrifices at home meant that my parents were able to sacrifices for our nation here on our grounds and overseas. And what this meant for me was the chance to raise two smart and beautiful young children who allowed me to see life so much differently so much sooner.
The Marine Corps gave me leadership, independence, selflessness, compassion, drive and initiative. I have always been and will forever be grateful for the Marine Corps for allowing me the opportunity to experience life in ways unimaginable and for also providing me the opportunity to continue and further education. The few. The proud. Semper Fidelis; always faithful.
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