The Only Choice: The Right One

The Only Choice: The Right One
Dedicated to my nephew Robbie:

Written by: Fran Lewis

Life does not always begin when the day we are born, nor does it end when we die. Sometimes lives are cut short by fate and other times because we decide to end it ourselves. How we decide to live and what we do is our decision and ours alone. Parents, teachers and others might try to influence a child, an adult or anyone else into living their lives and patterning them after one of them, but this does not always succeed. Everyone needs a direction to following, everyone needs goals, but sometimes those goals do not include the same things that our parents want for us. Not every child will go to college. Not every child will win the Nobel Peace Prize or graduate Harvard or Yale. Some will go and become auto mechanics, pilots, firefighters and teachers. Still others will flounder and go along trying different things and failing at each one. Until one day, without telling anyone or even caring about what others think, that person makes a life altering decision with no way to turn back.

Thus begins our story about a special young man who spent many years in school and lived in a warm and nourishing home and found himself going no where. School was always difficult for him and frustrating. He could not keep up with his assignments or with his daily homework. He was more concerned with his social life and with his friends then with getting good grades. Then something happened on the way home from school one day that would forever change the way he thought and his entire life.

Walking home from middle school he was followed by six boys who were looking for trouble that day. They saw him walking along a dark and deserted street and decided that he was a perfect target. They followed him for several blocks before making their presence known to him. Even though he was in good physical shape, he was no match for these six kids. Before he knew it one of them at gotten him from behind and the other five tried to stomp on his face and head. Before, passing out he had managed to take down two of them, but could not hold off the rest. These boys decided that they just wanted to hurt someone for no reason and he happened to come along just at the wrong time.

No one seemed to notice him lying there in a pool full of blood on this dark street. When the owner of the house that he was lying in front of came home, he called 911 and he finally got the medical help he needed. Frantically, they worked on him and took him to the hospital where they diagnosed him with many bruises, serious head injuries and other broken bones. Needless to say the police were going to have to do something about this and fast. The main concern was that no other boys would be attacked by them and no other parents would have to endure the fear and horror that his did for the months to come.

After weeks of rest at home and time in the hospital it was decided that he would never return to that school again. The sad part was that the police did not do enough and the boys involved got away with their horrific actions even though they were identified and brought in for questioning.

It was at this point that he stated that this would never happen again and that if the school and the police could not protect him, he would find a way to do it himself. High School proved frustrating for him and he decided to drop out. Not one of his advisers or teachers encouraged him to stay or offered him help. Instead, they said that the zoning laws were changing and he would have to attend a school where the boys that had injured him in Middle School, were attending. This never came to pass because he and his parents with the help of his aunt fought it and won.

Life for him began the day he dropped out of High School and enrolled to take his GED courses and finally the exam. Being extremely bright he not only breezed through these classes, but scored really high. In this particular state in order for a teenager or anyone to get a driver’s license, he or she has to have a high school diploma. That was one incentive and here comes the second.

Enrolling in a community college after receiving his diploma was not the right choice. So he bided his time and waited so that he could start to fulfill his lifelong dream. Some want a career in a professional field, others in vocational fields and some choose something that would forever change his/her lives in hopes that he or she will make a significant difference by making this choice.

For the past 5 years he has had only one goal. That was to serve his country and fight for our country’s freedom. It takes a special kind of person to risk the ultimate sacrifice and make such a special and unselfish decision. Without a word to anyone he went on the internet, to recruiting offices and made phone calls to learn about the different branches of the armed forces before making his decision to enlist. In June of this year he chose the Army. He decided that he wanted to fight for our country in the only way that he could and he wanted to endure the training both physical and mental so that no one would ever overtake him again as those boys did that day.

Although he lived in a home with 2 great parents, 2 sisters and a new baby brother, he always felt on the outside looking in. He seemed to feel left out and not always a part of everything. He never got the time he needed from anyone to help him with his homework, nor was anyone really aware of what was happening to him until it was too late. In June he made the decision to enlist and on July 26, 2007 he left his home and his parents to begin basic training and his career in the Army. Not only does he want to be a ranger and learn how to parachute out of planes but he wants to fight on the front lines. That is scary for anyone not alone his parents who were not really happy with his decision, nor was the rest of his family. But, once made there is no turning back.

After graduating from basic training and beginning ranger school, I spoke to him and for the first time I think that he sounded so mature, together and had his own path to follow. He sounded grounded with his specific goals in mind and he was going to forge ahead. I was proud of him before, but even more so now. I guess after talking to I still feel afraid and pray for his safety and hope that he will not have to fight in combat any time soon or ever. But, wherever he is stationed and whatever he does, just know that your aunt is with you in heart, spirit and in every other way.

Dear Robbie,
Wherever life takes you whatever roads your follow just know that your decision was the right one for you. I am so proud of who you are and what you are doing for yourself, our country and for those that are privileged to serve along side of you.

I love you so much and miss you.

Aunt Frani Lewis

To those parents who have soldiers overseas and for all those who will, keep the faith in your children and in our country.

We are so proud of all of you and what you will do now and in the future.