It's a beautiful feeling when a high school senior graduates. It's a bittersweet moment when they have a dream to fulfill and it is one that takes them further away than you want.
My nephew and godson graduated this past June 2014. He worked so hard to get to this point. He had some moments where school was difficult for him, but he never gave up. He participated in wrestling as a senior and was pretty awesome with it. He was undefeated the entire season.
About a couple of years ago, he asked me what I thought about him going to the Navy. He was really interested in joining. His exposure of the Navy was basically from movies. He was interested in reading books about the Navy. As a matter of fact, he asked me for a certain list of books for Christmas. All the titles related to stories of the Navy.
I told him that he really needed to think about it. It's not as "glamorous" as the movies make it seem. It's pretty tough to be out there on your own. He said, "I know Tia Shelle, I know." At the time, I didn't feel he really did know. Looking back, I think he did.
Now it's 2014. He's a graduate and is so hungry for his next step. He wants to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Although I still see him as that little boy I baptized and carried in my arms. That little boy I cared for when he was a baby-changing his pampers and feeding him his bottle. Somewhere between then and now he's grown up. He's not my son, but being my brother's son makes him like a son to me.
I know that wherever God leads him he will be successful. I love him and wish him all the best! When he joins the U.S. Navy, I'm going to be the most proudest aunt there ever was!!
Here's to a Happy 4th of July! The irony-my nephew going to follow the dream of defending our country as the many others who have done so before him and because of them we have a reason to celebrate this day.
