Last weekend I had the honor of attending my little brother’s graduation from flight school in the Air Force. I cannot express how PROUD I am of him! I remember him as a little junior high punk – we fought and butted heads like siblings do. When he reached high school though, he decided that he was going to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.
It was then that his life changed.
He turned from that little skateboarding punk into a straight-A student, an athlete (his senior year of high school included football, soccer, track and field, swimming and golf), and a leader in Civil Air Patrol. This kid did. not. sleep.
And then he got accepted into the Air Force Academy. It was a dream come true in itself, but it didn’t stop there. He went above and beyond, making the Honor Guard as a first year, and received his parachutist badge. (I won’t mention the videos posted of him goofing off in the dorms, playing pranks on other squadrons, getting busted for playing poker, or hearing about him tying a sheet to his ankles and wrists, and “sailing” in his rolling office chair across the plaza… I guess when they’re not allowed off campus, the cadets have to come up with creative ways to entertain themselves
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When I flew out to Colorado Springs for his graduation two years ago, I was one proud sister! But his journey didn’t end there. He went on to flight school – probably the toughest training program in the Air Force. Over the phone, I heard his laments and triumphs throughout the year about tests, big flights, and hours upon hours of studying. But he DID IT.
When he was handed those wings, it was all worth it. His dream come true.
And I was so incredibly blessed to have been able to be there!
Congrats Tom – I love you, and I’m so, so proud!
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