A little over a year and a half ago my best friend joined the national guard. He was so beyond excited that I couldn't help but feel happy for him. At the last minute something happened and he wasn't allowed to go to basic training in Ft. Jackson. The guy that had enlisted with him did go, though, leaving him alone for an entire summer. When our senior year started he was in a frenzy. He had to go, had to, so he gave it another try. On May 17th, the day after our high school graduation, he was shipped to Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri to start his training. In October he'll come back a fully trained military policeman.

 Why did he do this? Why did he sign the next four years of his life away to the government? There were a few reasons ranging from the money to college help, but the primary one was his dad First Class Sergeant Brian Pohlen, who has spent the better part of his life in the national guard as an engineer. He's watched his dad go away for multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. He's picked up the phone only to find the governor on the line asking for his dad to come to dinner (that's pretty cool and a funny story, by the way). Anyway, Jake joined the military to placate his father, but he'll be making a lot more money than his dad and he could rise through the ranks faster.

This other guy that he enlisted with went off to Ft. Jackson to train to be an engineer this summer and he'll be back in August for a couple of ways before getting shipped off again. The likelihood of him making it to Iraq or Afghanistan is slim, which puts my mind at rest. 

While I'm 100% supportive of my two friends and the rest of the United States military, I do get scared. I'm a born worrier so I'm always thinking that something bad could happen to those two crazy kids and then I'm left with the biggest worries: What about their families and what happens to them if they come back injured?

Well, through my research I have found a way to assuage my fears.

The National Military Family Association, Operation Mom, and Military Families United are dedicated to making sure that military families and their soldiers are not forgotten and are supported.

And Soldiers' Angels, which works with the VA,, makes sure that veteran hospitals are kept clean and the soldiers never feel alone or are mistreated.

Check out their sites for more information:

National Military Family Association

Operation Mom 

Military Families United 

Soldiers' Angels 

 

P.S.

Conversation between the governor of SD and my friend Jake

Jake: Hello

Governor: Hello, this is Governor Mike Rounds. Is Sergeant Pohlen home?

Jake: You aren't the governor

Governor: Um... yes I am.

Jake: Is this a joke?

Governor: No, is Brian home?

Jake: Dad, the governor's on the phone!

Brian: Good, I've been waiting for his call. 

It has come to my attention, that the peace sign;the holding up the two firstt fingers, or the split circle is become nothing more than something that looks cool.  Alot of the preepy people in my school wear these shirts with the signs on them and these big necklaces with the sign and they do not truly even know what the symbol is supposed to stand for.  They have no big opinions on anything that has to do with peace/war or anything like that.  It has just become something tahat is supposed to look cool.  Alos in the myspace pics etc, they hold up two fingers because it 'looks good in the picture' I really find this upsetting and wish that they would take the trend to semething else.  D=So do you stand for the true peace sign, or are you a 'I wear peace cuz its cool' person?

Actress Kate Winslet has been grabbing the headlines this week for her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes after winning two awards. Her gushing acceptance speech in which she forgot the name of fellow nominee Angelina Jolie has been seen the world over and it got me thinking about my topic for the blog this week – Appreciation.

To achieve great things in life we need a strong support group around us whether that be family, friends or colleagues. These people can help you in many ways from doing small jobs for you to save you time to focus n your goal to helping you improve in certain areas of your life or your talent.

The most important thing family, friends and colleagues give is their emotional support. When you are feeling down they pick you up and when you are doing well it is their encouragement which spurs you on and makes it all worthwhile. These people are there to offer support and advice when you need it the most and to offer it from a point of view which is one of wanting you to succeed. It is their love and belief in you and knowing that you have their love and belief which helps you handle going in to interviews, auditions or trials when they can’t physically be in the room with you, when you are alone or when it all rests on your shoulders.

When you are trying to achieve your dream some of your support network may put their life on hold for you or at least rearrange all their plans so they can help you. This is why it is so important that you show them everyday that you appreciate them. You may not be able to thank them on TV with millions of people watching but you need to find ways in which to know they are appreciated. Some people may not help you if they don’t feel appreciated but most will help you without the need of being appreciated however this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t show them that you appreciate them. Showing you appreciate someone can really make their day and help inspire them in their own life.

So go out and make someone’s day go and show them that you appreciate them.

Adam Sibley
Founder of the Talented Young People organisation
www.talentedyoungpeople.com
"Envisage it, Believe it, Achieve it!"
”Shaking up the Youth of Today”

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.blogspot.com