Private 1st Class Joel Chavez

Rosemead, CA

My journey began years ago. I've wanted to be in the military since I was born. Originally, my plan was to join the Navy to become a SEAL. I decided it would be best to get my college degree before I enlisted. Three years into it, I became bored and lost interest and eventually I left school. I married and life took over. I went from job to job, just trying to support my family, really never finding any one thing that caught my interest. The military was always in the back of my mind and eventually I went back to it, finally ending up in the office of a Marine recruiter, SSGT Williamson. When he told me it would be harder than anything I'd ever done, I was hooked. And he was right. I've always had an extreme fear of jumping into water. So much so, that I've always very carefully lowered myself into any body of water. And it was there, at MCRD San Diego, that I finally had to face my fear. And to my great surprise, I did it. I made the leap, and since that day, I've doubted myself less and had my confidence and sense of direction grow by leaps and bounds. I had accomplished what I thought would never happen, what I would not allow to happen. And I had done it of my own accord.