2023/Megan -

Magic was what I felt when I looked up at the Eiffel tower stretching towards the cloud bank with its twisting spires of metal. Magic was the only word that could describe seeing the Northern lights for the first time. Seeing Wicked on Broadway elicited intense imagery that was not only created by the stage but also the magic of it all. I have been guided my entire life by the concept of magic and it's led me to the most fascinating places. It’s a feeling of being pulled around the world for a bigger purpose.

From a young age, magic has presented itself to me in such an unusual way being that I had an unusual upbringing. As an American citizen, born and raised in Germany and now living in Japan, I have never been in the states for longer than a summer family visit. I never viewed this with indignation; I could explore other cultures due to my military upbringing. I got a schultüte on my first day at German kindergarten, visited my Oma often and ate German kuchen, and created my own lanterns for the Laternenfest, bows for archery, and Sanchins for music, and I wouldn’t have these stories and memories if my parents didn’t choose this lifestyle for our family.

Being in a military community means being surrounded by the most riveting stories, the most magical settings, and a diverse population of high-quality individuals. Each of us has a unique story with unique struggles and if we listen to each other, maybe we’ll see that we’re not so different from each other. I always know that the military community will have a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. Moving onto college, I find that it’s scary and isolating to leave this military community and enter a world that I know so little about but somehow it brings me comfort knowing that I have a place to belong. There might be no physical place to call home but I still have a home with those who care about me. The military community makes me feel seen and accepted and that to me is my most defining magical experience.