A Special Forces selection instructor evaluating the 12 of us candidates and taking notes declared, “You have five minutes to come up with a plan for the apparatus, or I’ll show you the most inefficient method of constructing it.” He referred to the challenge of turning a 20-foot wooden telephone pole, a collection of iron pipes, two worn and partially inflated jeep wheels and a few lashings into a rolling seesaw that we had to push through sandy roads in the North Carolina hills. After failing to meet the deadline, we were forced to construct the device using his cruel design. My team spent the next eight grueling hours dragging the two-thousand-pound contraption while advancing one step at a time. This was the first time I had experienced breaking down a task into such tiny increments, but it provided a blueprint for future success.
The Special Forces selection process tested the power of determination and the resilience of the human spirit. At times, I felt like giving up, but I found solace in reciting the lines from the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley. The words of the poem reminded me that I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul and that I have the power within me to overcome any challenge that I may face. This resolute conviction has given me the confidence to pursue challenges and goals beyond what I thought possible.
During special forces training on a scorching day in North Carolina, I talked with one of my teammates, a conversation that has stuck with me ever since. As we were taking a break, my teammate showed me his sleeve tattoo depicting Shakespeare’s “Seven Ages of Man.” The intricate artwork showcased the different stages of life, from infancy to old age, and a corresponding quote from the famous monologue accompanied each image. I was struck by the thought and meaning behind the tattoo, and it got me thinking about the importance of education and personal growth. This conversation reminded me that we all have the power to shape our lives, and it is up to us to make the most of our time before becoming children again.
Every day, as I passed walls adorned with images of my fallen comrades, I felt a surge of pride and determination to reach my full potential and positively impact my community. As I plan, I am eager to tackle new challenges that will help me grow and better myself and, in turn, have a lasting impact on my community. I believe that my time at Vassar will be as meaningful and transformative as my experiences as a soldier, and I am eager to graduate and begin a new stage of my life.