By Matt Browning
Once he became a freshman, Rose Hill junior Andrew Poss finally started to feel like his normal. Before that, he and his family were constantly on the move.
Andrew’s dad, Mike, enlisted in the Army at age 17 and served for 36 years, before retiring in 2023.
“My life has been pretty challenging and difficult considering the fact that almost every one to two years up until middle school, I had to move states and switch schools,” Andrew said. “I would say that the hardest thing from moving is definitely leaving the friends you made, and having to switch schools and find new friends every two years which was pretty hard.”
Having his father in the military changed Andrew’s perspective on many aspects of his life.
“I think this because growing up, seeing your dad wear a uniform and go help out our country every day definitely made me be more respectful to him, his co-workers, and also veterans,” Andrew said. “I think this because I know how it feels when your dad is deployed, and there is nothing that you can do to help protect him at war.”
If another child of a parent in the military was having a difficult time, Andrew said the best way to get through the struggles is to be open-minded and positive.
“If your parent is deployed, you can’t do much to help them, but the best thing you can do is try and talk to them as much as you can, when you can,” Andrew said. “I think this because I know how it feels when your Dad is deployed, and there is nothing that you can do to help protect him at war.”
