College was far from what I originally wanted in life.
Ever since I was 12 I wanted to be a soldier, largely inspired my great uncle from WW2 who started out in the Battle of Britain in 1940 and fell in Holland 1945. From then on I had a pro military life style and held things like loyalty and honour very highly and I loved military history and music and ideas like heroism. I even joined army cadets and was seen by some as a "shining star" in the cadet corps. I wore the black beret of the armoured recon with pride, was once double promoted, and aged out at 19 a highly respected Sergeant. I miss them sometimes, and I felt much pride when doing things like rifle drill. Or firing a weapon for the first time (10 rounds), the Lee Enfield Bolt Action Rifle, and getting my first bulls-eye and a good grouping, then later becoming a Marksman First Class.
But when the moment of truth came I wasn't accepted due to the aptitude test, there is a reason why some Canadians move to the U.S to enlist, it's easier. But I'm too patriotic for such a move, though I was tempted, I love my country.
I can't rely on my family forever so I couldn't just sit around forever, but it was very difficult as the army was the only thing I knew. When my brother decided to go to college for Fish and Wildlife Technician I jumped on the wagon, so I could get the education to get a good job. It was the August before college started when I went to the annual fair and horse show like I have most my whole life that is when I replaced the black beret with the now iconic black cowboy hat.
Now my future is up in the air. I might try my hand at the army again, I might become a tracker/ranger, I might get into the agricultural business. I'm just tryin' to get by in the world. I have way less friends then I once did, in fact very very few these days. At first I was intensely bothered by this but these days I have comfortably accepted it.
