Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.
I haven't been studying for my advancement exam. To be honest, as mad and shocked as everyone else will be, I'll be glad if I don't make Petty Officer. I'm a firm believer that if I'm not ready, I shouldn't do it. I don't care that I "deserve" the promotion more than most of the people who actually get it. I don't care if I'll be stuck as an Airman for another six months. I'd rather be an overqualified Airman than an underqualified Petty Officer. I'd rather feel that I earn what I get.
Though, if I do advance, well, then look out. It's no more Ms. Nice Amber. I do everything I'm told to, and I will continue to, but I will no longer take the abuse that I currently do. I also won't allow that same abuse to be pilled atop all of the other Airman I work with, or anyone for that matter. There's this little thing called respect and it lacks in a lot of aspects in the military, more so than most people are aware of. Someone needs to do what they can to remedy that.
I had this belief back in A-School and it was the reason that I didn't want to be top of the class. What does rank matter when you're going to be commissioned? I didn't want to be advanced to Petty Officer, or even Airman, when I was in school because 1.) It's not going to matter when I'm an Ensign, and 2.) I want to earn that rank by working for it and doing my time. I don't like freebies, hence why I gave up my full college ride. I like to struggle sometimes--it makes me stronger.
Anyway, all of this being said, I might contradict myself and glance over some notes, just to not totally shoot myself in the foot. I'd like to have those college credits (17 of them!) that come along with advancing, and I'm sure my officer's package would be better off for it. I'm not talking about all out cramming or anything--just flipping through the BMRs (Basic Military Requirements). We will see though, we will definitely see.
The way to learn to do things is to do things. The way to learn a trade is to work at it. Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed, and the work is half done already.
Though, if I do advance, well, then look out. It's no more Ms. Nice Amber. I do everything I'm told to, and I will continue to, but I will no longer take the abuse that I currently do. I also won't allow that same abuse to be pilled atop all of the other Airman I work with, or anyone for that matter. There's this little thing called respect and it lacks in a lot of aspects in the military, more so than most people are aware of. Someone needs to do what they can to remedy that.
I had this belief back in A-School and it was the reason that I didn't want to be top of the class. What does rank matter when you're going to be commissioned? I didn't want to be advanced to Petty Officer, or even Airman, when I was in school because 1.) It's not going to matter when I'm an Ensign, and 2.) I want to earn that rank by working for it and doing my time. I don't like freebies, hence why I gave up my full college ride. I like to struggle sometimes--it makes me stronger.
Anyway, all of this being said, I might contradict myself and glance over some notes, just to not totally shoot myself in the foot. I'd like to have those college credits (17 of them!) that come along with advancing, and I'm sure my officer's package would be better off for it. I'm not talking about all out cramming or anything--just flipping through the BMRs (Basic Military Requirements). We will see though, we will definitely see.
The way to learn to do things is to do things. The way to learn a trade is to work at it. Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed, and the work is half done already.