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Tanner Fleming
Dr. Wanda White
ENGL 1102
10 February 2014
TBD
Im originally from Hickory, North Carolina which is about 70 miles south of Charlotte.
When I was 8 my parents, brother and I moved out towards the country under my grandfathers
interest where we had a barn and 8 horses. Last year I resided in Colorado for a year as I
attended the United States Air Force Academy. Ive never really been interested in traveling, but
Ive been places. In my twenty years of living Ive done things many people never will and I
have embarked on journeys that were cut shorter than Ive wanted. As a child, or even last year, I
never thought I would see myself where I am today.
My grandfather is the man who molded my foundation into the person I am today. I feel
that everybody has that one person in their life that has shaped them into who they are regardless
if they are a family member or just a friend. He taught me respect and hard work which sounds
simple; but those are the elements of character that distinguish a man from a boy. After
practically spending my entire childhood growing up under his arm, I think I could safely say
without him I wouldnt be the person I want to be now. He has showed me a life thats not
centered and consumed by technology and a pampered society. I consider myself a spoiled
individual, I have everything I need and most of what I want. But as I take a step back I realize
that my grandfather introduced me to the difference between a need and a want. I took my
experiences with him for granted as I started to get older and get into high school where social
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life almost tends to become priority over family. For me it did, anyways. However, the most
important lesson I learned from him came after we started to grow apart. Five years ago he was
diagnosed with dementia, which is an extended form of Alzheimers. At first it wasnt so bad,
because the symptoms came gradually rather than all at once. But today he doesnt know who I
am. Im not the type of person who reaches out for sympathy, but I do understand that one of the
hardest things in life is losing somebody who is still there that you can no longer recognize.

Last year I attended the United States Air Force Academy. Originally, I had no intention
of joining the military but earning a football scholarship opened that door for my future. After
spending a year there I realized that I want to pursue a career in the military after graduating
here. It was an experience that I hated for what seemed the entire time I was there. You dont
find too many people that look forward to operating on a military schedule every single day
while enrolled in one of the toughest schools to graduate from statistically. After my senior year
in high school I was only allowed a short summer before reporting to basic military training mid-
June of 2012. During basic training, we were tested and stressed mentally and physically for 8
weeks, although it felt like 8 years. I considered myself a fairly disciplined kid before beginning
but this was a whole new level. We knew that school was going to be very difficult considering
the graduation rate is below fifty percent, but we still prayed that our classes would start so we
could just be done with all of the PT (physical training), marching, and the whole nine. However,
once classes began we almost wanted to be back in BMT just so we didnt have to work so hard
on our academics. All in all my experience there was profitable led me to meeting great friends
from across the country that were just as anxious as I was about attending a military academy. I
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also appreciated playing for a football team at that level and getting my first Saturday game(s)
familiarity.
I hate being clich. But Im about to briefly explain how football has changed my life. I
started playing in fifth grade after I had finally gotten sick of playing soccer. I still remember my
first days on the field and how much I truly loved playing. I was typically a little larger than all
of my teammates and opponents so I suppose you could say I had potential especially because
its the reason Im here today. Football was always more than just a game to me as it is to most
people who participate (usually for more than one year). Even without the best coaches or
committed teammates it has never failed to teach me a lot about respectable character. I sought
most of my success through being a student-athlete and that allowed me to take my education
further, which as I said earlier, led me to the USAFA and here. Although I must say that after
playing for ten years theres only so much more I can get from it as far as my interest in the sport
remaining where it used to be when I began. Its not exactly delightful to wake up sore every day
and realizing that I have to go back at it again and again.
As I was writing this out and reflecting on what subjects have impacted my life the most I
felt like I was able to get to know myself slightly better. Obviously I could go on and on about
other matters that have changed me into who I am but I felt like these probably sparked the most
altering towards my character and what will eventually lead to my future. My first passion in
athletics led me to finding other interests in a military career which will hopefully be successful.
And my grandfather taught me most of what I know about life and lessons which didnt all
necessarily come from the good whether it was controllable or not.