Essay writers reflect on life as military children Published May 11, 2010 By Kimberly L. Wright Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Fifth and sixth graders at Maxwell Elementary School relished the opportunity to express the joys and frustrations of the military life as part of a school essay contest in conjunction with the Year of the Air Force Family and the Month of the Military Child. The following students won the "Being a Military Child" essay contest: Zach DaSilva, fifth grade, first place; Nicole Martin, sixth grade, first runner up; Ashley Shirriff, sixth grade, second runner up; Abby Stout, fifth grade, third runner up. The winners were selected by Maxwell Elementary School teachers, the superintendent and the principal, and each received a gift box from the Family Advocacy Program. Zach was honored to win the contest. "I was ecstatic. I like the prize box, but the honor of winning was the best," he said. The essay contest gave the students an opportunity to ponder their lives as military children and express themselves. Nicole said she enjoyed putting her feelings down on paper for the contest. "It's cool to let other kids know about our experiences. I wanted to let other people know about my life," she said. Ashley said the most challenging thing about being a military child is having to move frequently, as parents change duty stations several times over the course of a career. "It's kind of hard because you meet all these new friends, and then you have to leave," she said. Nicole commented in her essay, "It's also hard to move away from all the things that you enjoy, such as your friends. But it's always a delight to meet new people." Three of the essay winners have moves in their near futures. Ashley and Nicole are moving to Scott AFB, Ill., and Zach will be moving to Nellis AFB, Nev. "I'm going to miss all my friends, but the experience will be great," he said. Ashley's essay also captured the awkwardness of so often being a stranger in a strange land. "Nothing is more uncomfortable than going to a new school, where everyone takes you as the 'new kid,'" she wrote. "Most of the time, the students at that school have been there for quite a while, and they already know their way around things. I'm afraid that I won't be one of those people. And these people probably won't even bother talking to those who don't." While Ashley finds the military life at times a bit frustrating, she finds encouragement in considering the possibilities: "I feel as if I don't have an actual place to call 'my home.' However, I enjoy seeing all of the new places and learning about so many different countries. But saying goodbye is probably the hardest thing to do. ... Although this life is crazy, I learn to live with it. And tell myself to just try and enjoy it." Zach's essay listed a gastronomical advantage to roaming. "The food! What I mean by that is that as I have been to so many places and countries, I have experienced several different types of food," he explained. "I feel very fortunate that because I am a military child, I have been to several countries [and have] seen different cultures." Abby also embraces the adventure of a military life. "My dad started in the Marines a few years before I was born, so I have been moving around quite a bit," she said. "I also get to make a lot of friends in different places such as Camp Pendleton, Cal., or even in Quantico, Va. Everywhere I have lived I have seen so many cool things and made so many good friends." Moving is not the only challenging aspect of military life that these youngsters share. Nicole and Zach's fathers are currently deployed. "It's hard to have a parent deployed," said Zach. In his essay, he noted, "My dad is deployed so often, he probably hasn't been to half of my birthdays." However, he and his father find ways to bridge the many miles between them. "Every night, he might call before bed or in the morning before school," Zach said. He also keeps in touch with his father via email and Skype, a communication service that allows people to communicate with each other via webcam. Abby's essay touched upon the grim possibilities of what may happen to her father when he is downrange. "I love my dad so much, but God has a plan for everybody, and so if he passes away I know he'll be safe forever," she wrote. "But right now I don't worry about that, I just live my life as best as I can." Despite the challenges of a military life, the children's essays expressed their optimism and pride of having military parents. "The military has made me a stronger person inside ..." said Nicole. "Meeting new people and going through hard times makes me appreciate life better in the end. Even though my grandma just died and my dad is in Afghanistan, my family is still holding strong. ... I'm most proud of my dad, who is helping our country and even another country, Afghanistan," she said. "I'm lucky to have a dad who is so willing to help our nation." Ashley's essay echoed these sentiments. "I am proud to call myself a military child. And I am definitely proud of my father and all that he does to serve my family. And not just my family, what he does to serve this country."