2025/Regan-

It never really occurred to me that I wasn't a normal child living the average life. Yes, I was still quite ordinary if you disregarded the fact that 1 was the child of a soldier’. I was told many times this fact, but I never truly understood the abnormality. Not until recently when I had to move away from a place I considered my home.

Earlier in my life, I typically moved within 3-4 years of staying in that area. I lived amongst other military children, so moving wasn't seen as anything abnormal. It was hard to grow deep connections with other children because of the limited time I had with them. I believe that my young age also added to my lighthearted feelings regarding friendship. However, those feelings changed when I was told I was going to move once again front Washington state to

Japan.

My family and I had been living there for’ 4 years when my Dad announced he got a new

job at Zama. I was 14 and had been extremely connected to the friends I had there. I wasn’t ready to leave them just yet. I understood that it’s quite lucky to be born in the age of social media so I could contact them easily, but it simply wasn't the same. My friends and I broke down in tears the day I left. We hugged each other tightly, knowing that we wouldn’t be able to for a long time. This move has taught me the real struggles of being born a military child.