Amanda Hill's Life

My grandpa passed away from prostate cancer. That whole year prior to his death my mother and I would travel back and forth from Alabama to Texas so my mom could help out with my grandpa. My mother was a nurse.

It was the first time I experienced anyone close to me dying. My family was really good about explaining life and death to me in a way that it was ok.

Was switch over AGAIN to a new school. Mind you, we had never moved. This is where I met new friends and started cussing because I thought it was cool. I also had a crazy crush on some boy in my class.

My best friend since kindergarten moved out of state. It was heartbreaking for me. It was the first time I understood the heartbreak that comes with being a military brat.

We moved to Ft. Huachuca Arizona so my dad could do a year of training there. It was so different from Alabama. I never grew to like Arizona.

First time I ever had to deal with bullies. I was picked on by a few popular girls for a while. When I finally had enough I stuck up for myself and they totally backed off. It was a very valuable lesson.

I became came really ill around the last quarter of the school year. I was in a lot of pain and in and out of the hospital. It took them forever to diagnose me. I missed 22 days of school just within those last 6 weeks of class. I still somehow managed to pass.

We left Arizona and drove all the way to New York. We took a week to stop and see site. It was an amazing experience. I was still getting over my illness but it was really cool to see the states like that.

When we first got to New York we had stayed in an apartment until we found a rental house. We lived in the rental house for a year before we moved to on-post housing.

I remember being thrilled because I had gotten out of school in early May and didn't have to go back to school until mid September. I remember the classrooms being completely different from any other classrooms I had been in. They were more of cubicles.

Oh man! What memories I had at this place. These were the beginning of my teenage years and boy was I rebellious. I started smoking, sneaking out, had my first kiss, was caught shoplifting, was definitely hanging out with the wrong group of kids

First time in middle school. First time having to go from class to class. I made a lot of friend in middle school but I also seemed to have just as many enemies. I knew how to stick up for myself though. My enemies usually ended up becoming my friend.

We moved back to Alabama because that is where my father wanted to retire. For the last year of his army career he traveled back and forth from Augusta Ga to Huntsville Al every weekend. My parents had always told me that once I started high school they would make sure I stayed there all four years.

I made a lot of friends in highschool, I wasn't apart of any certain clique, I just got along with everyone. I dated a few boys here and there but I had one major boyfriend throughout my highschool years.

I had finally graduated highschool. My parents were so proud of me. They honestly thought that I wouldn't make it and I almost didn't. About 2 month before graduation I was about to be expelled for missing so many days of class. However, my favorite teacher told me if I didn't miss anymore days he would make sure that I would graduate. So I stuck it out for 2 whole months without skipping.

My parents felt it would wise for me to move out on my own before we killed one another. So at 18 years of age I moved into a ghetto 1 bedroom apartment 5 minute away from my full time job. I LOVED every minute of living in that apartment. So many parties, so many memories.

At this point in my life I was having a lot of fun but probably a little bit to much fun. It got to the point where I had to take a good look at myself and my life and figure out what I was going to do. I remember kneeling down and praying for guidance and pouring my heart out to my heavenly father above. When I was finished I felt a calm peace. The next day at work a coworker randomly asked me if I wanted to go to church with her that Sunday. I knew then I had my answer to my prayer.

On this day I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was one of the happiest, most memorable days of my life. I will never forget the feeling I had when I emerged out of that water. It was amazing.

I moved back in with my parents so I could afford to go back to school. I started taking night classes at the local community college.

Decided that I wanted to live in an apartment again and I moved in my boyfriends sister for a year.

It wasn't your typical "I don't want to be with you anymore" breakup. I just knew then that it wouldn't work out. So I started to distance myself from his family.

Graham was the rebound guy. However, Graham changed my life. I wouldn't say he changed it for the better or the worse but he definitely set me on a path that I had not originally planned for.

Moved back into my parents house for the last time. My life had completely turned upside down at this point and I had no idea what I was going to do.

On this day I was sick with strep throat and I was waiting in the pharmacy waiting room to get my prescriptions. I was still my fathers dependent so I was being seen at the onpost hospital. I kept noticing all of these people in uniform coming in and within 5 to 10 mins being called for their prescriptions. (Soldiers have first dibs) I decided then and their that I was going to join the army so I could get my prescriptions in a timely manner.

Obviously there was so much more to it than prescriptions but that is what it took to make me even consider joining the army. After thinking it through thoroughly, I knew it was the right choice.

I served in the army for 6 years as an Radiologic technologist. I hated being in the army from the very first minute I knew before I even joined that I would only do my 6 years and get out. Staying in was never an option.

This is where we in-processed into the army. We were given all of our clothes, shots, financial information, and any other basic information

I did my first round of basic training and completed everything minus the basic rifle marksmanship. Since I didn't do the BRM I was suppose to recycle to a new company so that I could finish up the BRM. However, they decided to recycle me back all the way to the beginning of Basic training and have me do it all over again.

Went through basic all over again. The second time around wasn't nearly as bad. I already knew how to do everything and I was already in shape from the previous 9 weeks.

This is the day I met my husband for the very first time. I hated him the moment he opened his mouth. My husband was my drill sergeant. It took a while before I actually started to like him.

For my job training I was sent to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas. There we learned about all kinds of Radiology information. There was a lot more freedom during this time compared to basic training. I met a lot of great friends here and had a lot of great times.

Went to Ft. Belvoir VA for my on the job training as a radiology tech.

My first duty station was Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. I was a little upset because I had wanted to go to Korea but everything worked out in the end.

Joe proposed to me over Labor Day weekend

Joe and I went to the courthouse on a whim that day and said our I do's

Bought our first home in the State of Alabama.

Joe had just became an officer and had to go to transporation school before he was to go to his first duty station. I stayed in Alabama

One of the best days of my life!!! I cried I was so happy to be done with it.

Went back to school to obtain my Bachelors in Psychology

Graduated from Troy University with a Bachelors in Psychology

Working on my Masters in Clinical and Mental Health at Troy University