John L
SHAPE Middle School
Military children make up only 0.05% of the world's kids, which means their experience is truly unique. They face challenges such as their parents getting deployed to new places every three years. As a military child myself, I have had to move from the US to Europe and lost touch with many great friends. Unfortunately, I am now facing another move, which means I will have to leave behind even more friends. Deployments also pose a significant challenge for military children. When my father was once deployed to Korea for nine months, it was very hard being separated from him for such a long time. Most kids don't have to endure such prolonged separation from one of their parents. Despite the challenges, there are some notable advantages to growing up as a military child, such as the opportunity to travel and get good access to schools and discounts. With my family, I’ve had the privilege of exploring numerous iconic destinations throughout Europe such as Italy, Greece, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Austria, These locations are places many Americans can only imagine. Being a military child is undoubtedly a truly unique experience.