My truth was ...

Let me start off by saying which was my truth I posted a few weeks back.  The truth was #4; I did drive through the town of Fallujah while deployed to the Middle East in 2004.  This happened in the very beginning of my tour. 

   When asked the question on how my semester is going I have to say, unexpectedly difficult.  The course isn’t hard when one has the time to do all the work.  I don’t because of my full time job I presently have.  See I work for the federal government and presently we are in a “Sequestration”.  This has placed an added burden on me and the position I hold.  I am now doing the work that once took three people.  I find myself doing and making “PowerPoint” presentations for meetings and briefings.  Since this is my career I have to except the work and make it happen, my yearly review and bonuses hinge on my performance. 

   The atmosphere at school is great and it’s a welcome change from the daily norm I have at the airport.  The challenges I face are starting to show and it is increasing on a weekly basis.  Not being able to leave work on time has affected my commute from Santa Barbara to Oxnard.  Once I finally complete my daily assignments I rush out of the airport and head back to the 805.  The way things are going for me right now are not good but I’m trying to find that balance between work and school. 

   My career is taking all my focus away from school and with a five month old daughter at home balance is rough.  It’s going to be a long road for me but I’ve almost going to have to realize that I might have to take this class over again.  The choice isn’t mine but the struggle is weighing on my shoulders harder than I imagined.  No one plans on work consuming ones daily life and that’s what is happening to me.  I won’t quit but I will try my hardest and someday in the near future all these struggles will be another distant memory of hurdles that I accomplished.