Rachel Penick

Block 5
The Big Decision
It was a sunny afternoon when my older brother JT graduated from high school. He was a
football star and now had to go on to choose where he would play in college. He was deciding
between West Point and University of Chicago.
Jt was a 6’3”, 220-pound linebacker. I felt like he got bigger every week with how much
he was eating. He looked like a D1 linebacker. He was an absolute stud on the field. His two
options for college both had their pros and cons. West Point was free, it would set his future up
for life, and army’s football team was one of the best in the nation. But West Point was also
super strict, far from home, and he wouldn’t be able to come home for summer. University of
Chicago was one of the best schools in the nation, was a fun school, and one of his best friends
was going there. But, University of Chicago was also in a cold area, very expensive, and the
football team wasn’t very good. He battled with his decision for months.
Jt carried fear that if he went to west point, he wouldn’t be able to handle the discipline.
West Point had so many rules. Jt had lived the easiest life ever in high school. He got to party
and go out with his friends whenever he wanted. West Point would be like a whole new world
for him. He contemplated whether the 4 years of torture would be worth a guaranteed job and
successful future. He had to focus on his future and not on the present.
Jt carried concern that University of Chicago would put him in major debt for his future.
West Point guaranteed him a job and he would have no debt, while U of C would not guarantee
him a job and he would have major debt. But he would have the time of his life at this school. He
could make a ton of new friends and go out every weekend. Also, the education is excellent, and
he could focus on school since the football team was D3.
“I don’t know what I want to do” Jt thought to himself. I just wish I could stay in high
school. I don’t want to go to a military school, that sounds so boring. But I feel a lot of pressure
form my family and my coach to take this opportunity. University of Chicago would be the
easier route for now, but later I would face many more challenges. I have to decide by tomorrow.
I’m going to pray about it and sleep on it and come to a decision in the morning. I have already
thought about everything I can. It’s time to decide.
The next morning Jt came downstairs to announce to us where he was going to go. The
room filled with silence. I remember fiddling with the plastic cup in front of me, waiting for his
news. “West Point” he said. “I’m going to West Point”. We all cheered for him because we were
proud that he chose the path that would be best for his future. We all crowded him and
congradulated him. He only had 5 more weeks at home before he had to leave.
It was June of 2019 and Jt was on his way to leave for West Point. I knew I wouldn’t see
him for months. I was used to seeing him every day, so this was hard for me and my family. I
remember my little brother crying before he left. Jt walked out the door and onto his new life at
West Point, leaving us to get used to life without him.
I arrived at West Point. I was all suited up and ready for this new chapter in my life. I had
only been there for 15 minutes, and they already dragged me over to shave my head. This was
the start of the next 4 years of my life. Had I made the right decision? I guess only God knows.
All I knew is that I had to make the best of my situation. I looked over at the guy sitting next to
me. “Good luck big guy” he said to me. I realized that I wasn’t alone in this. Maybe it wouldn’t
be as bad as I thought. I got through the day and finally got to lay in my bed. I got a text from my
family telling me how much they loved me. “I’m going to be just fine” I thought to myself as I
drifted off into a much needed sleep.