It wasn't too long ago when my friends and I started talking about our plans for after high school. I remember listening to my best friend talk to her mom about what she should do. Her mom mentioned going to the United States Military Academy and from then on she had one goal in mind: to be accepted. She had written essays upon essays. Janel and I were planning to go out to eat one night when I got a text saying, "I need to tell you something, it's not bad." Waiting for Janel to get to my house felt like hours even though she was only three minutes away at the high school.
I got in the car with her and by the look on her face, I could tell. She had just received a nomination which is a very important key to being accepted into West Point. Although nominations aren't always a guaranteed acceptance, it was a moment of being a proud best friend, but also a very sad one. I knew her summer would be cut short and I wouldn't be able to talk to her for some time other than writing letters. During a softball practice, she had received a phone call that would change her life, but only for the better. She had gotten into the United States Military Academy Prep School (USMAPS). On the way to a softball game is when Janel told me that she will be reporting for basic training July 18th, which was one month before I had to report for field hockey preseason.
I cried a lot in the months, weeks, and days leading up to Janel's departure from "civilian" life to being a Cadet Candidate. I couldn't fathom not being able to talk to my best friend for three weeks other than by snail mail. We would try to make light of the situation by me yelling at her while she was trying not to smirk (she has a bit of a smirking problem). We made the time that we did have together worth it.
The month without being able to see Janel and the three weeks only communicating by mail was rough. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a piece of mail so much in my life. When I got my first letter I was unbelievably happy. Tears just streamed down my face when I was reading it just because of how happy I was. It only made me want her to have her phone back that much more. When the group message received its' first text from Janel in three weeks, I think it was almost like we were all in peace again. When I received my first phone call, my boyfriend, who is also a good friend of hers, and I were ecstatic. I don't think I could have hit the answer key any faster. We talked for about an hour and a half since we had barely any communication in the weeks prior. We talked, we laughed, I cried a bit and we carried on with our lives as normal.
I took a trip up to West Point for a day with my boyfriend to go watch the Army Women's Basketball team take on the University of Albany. Of course, we also had to visit with Janel. When I was there it wasn't a shock how she fell in love with it. It was breath-taking. I definitely think it takes someone special to go there and succeed. If anyone would be up to face the challenge head on, it was her.
Janel leaving made me realize that things will start to change. My friends and I would all be going our separate ways. Although Janel was my hardest goodbye, it made it a lot easier to say goodbye to the rest of my friends. Janel and I still talk about the same stuff we did as if we were in high school. We both still enjoy eating McDonald's, pancakes & bacon from the diner, and pretty much not being healthy.
My best friend that I hugged goodbye two days before she left, is still the same person I see every time we're both home. It's fun to see the ones you love do well and excel doing what they are good at and enjoy doing. The military didn't change my best friend. If anything, it's made her an even better friend.
