Wanting to follow in his parents’ footsteps, senior Patrick Byrd had originally planned to join the Marines but chose the Army, believing it offered more opportunities. He completed 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training before returning to his final year of high school, where he now balances drill weekends, homework and the demands of military life.
Although some friends and family had doubts about his decision, Byrd remained determined. Over time, his confidence grew and his father’s support helped him follow through with his BTC plans.
“Many of the people closest to me often told me that they weren’t super happy with my idea of joining, but I often would tell them that it had more benefits than downsides,” Byrd said.
While there were some benefits, like homeowners’ assistance, college tuition coverage and health benefits, the sacrifices ultimately had a greater cost.
“There were a lot of sacrifices,” Byrd said. “Some of my closest friends and family had to put up with either minimal contact or simply none at all during my training.”
The obligations he made during training, especially time away from loved ones, gave him a new perspective on how to manage the demands in his life.
“I’ve learned to prioritize what I think needs immediate attention, and if there are several, get the difficult task done first,” Byrd said. “I just work my way down the priority list that way until everything’s done.”
