Watershed Paper

Years of Patience

(Watershed Paper)

Foua Scott Uini

Brandman University

Abstract

In this paper the author will provide a clear and concise description of event that happened in his professional career.  The author will also discuss the beginning, natural zone (chaos) and the end of Bridges Transition. Also, through the use of the self-assessments and numerous examples provided, the author will provide a complete analysis of his professional critical change event.  Finally, the author will reflect on the three insights he gained.

The First Step

In the summer, during the month of May, the weather was perfect, slight breeze from the Santa Ana winds with no over cast and commencing on the famous Vince Ferragamo Memorial Football Field of Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington, California was the graduation ceremony for Class of 1986.  I was fortunate to be amongst one of those graduates who participated during this special ceremony.  The decision my parents made to move myself and my older brother from Hawaii to California to live with my aunt to receive a better education, has come to an end.  My parents instilled trust in me to except this change and better myself in education but I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity.  I didn’t stand out in education or neither did I receive any special recognition that day, I was just the average kid who tried his best to accomplish the minimum requirements to get through high school.  

However, due to scholastic sports, I stayed in school so I could participate in sports, so I had to meet the average academic grade just to take part in these events. I didn’t have the motivation or the drive to pursue a higher education even though I was one of the best athletes that received numerous offers to attend college.  During the graduation ceremony, I was sitting with the graduates waiting for my name to be called so I could receive my diploma and move on to the next chapter in my life.  While sitting there, I asked myself, now what are you going to do next?  

It was at that point I realize my life has about to changed again,  Stockkard, J., Carpenter, G., & Kahle, L. (2003) pointed out “during adulthood, individuals experience a sequence of alternating periods of stability, called structure building, and periods of potential transition, called structure changing. These periods do not occur at certain chronological ages, but are individually scripted based upon individuals’ life experiences. The experiences in these periods, particularly in the structure changing times, require the individual to reaffirm or reassess previously made life choices associated with the life structure, which is thought to consist of all aspects in a person’s life, including personality, occupation or career, family, leisure, and values” (pg. 225).  I had to try to be positive on what my next chapter in life would be.  

Big Decision

        After missing out on the minimum requirement on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) to enter college, I realize that it was time to find me a job.  I worked at the church with a family member for about a month until I met a recruiter who was a friend of the family.  He basically talked and encourage me to try and focus myself on education and how it is important for a young man to be educated.  The neighborhood I grew up in Los Angeles was infested with gang members and nearly everyone was involved somehow.  There were no decent jobs around and the military was paying good money and provided the best benefits and of course, who else can pay for education besides the military at that time.  

I really needed to make a decision or change my life style if I wanted to see the future.  Bates, M. (2012) stated “Because of the widespread workforce instability, many people are turning to the military. Steady pay and benefits, professional training and experience, and the possibility of advancement now entice people of all ages and walks of life” (pg. 2).  After many hours of elusion and making excuses not to see the recruiter, after hours of talking with my older cousin, I decided to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) which I barely passed.  Two weeks after receiving my final results and much influence from my recruiter, I decided to join the United States Army.  

Young Soldier

        After completing basic training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) where I was awarded the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) 16S MANSPAD (Man Portable Air Defense System) I was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 67th Air Defense Artillery on Larson Barracks in Kitzengen, Germany under the 3rd Infantry Division “ROCK OF THE MARNE”, the Audie Murphy Division which was headquartered on Leighton Barracks in Wurzburg, Germany.  As a young Soldier, I was motivated by my past, how my parents sacrificed to make changes for improvement and I didn’t fulfill that obligation by taking advantage of a better school district and more opportunities than the state of Hawaii at that time. Bridges, W. (2004) states “Your own career transitions will also resonate with those that that others are going through” (pg. 81).  

I made the best of my tour in Germany, I focused on my career and I got involved with the community of Kitzengen.  During my tenure in Germany, I competed yearly for the BEST STINGER competition from within Europe, it consisted of numerous events with the best 12 teams selected overall participating in the Live Fire Exercise in the small island of Crete near Greece. I was lucky to be selected all three years and the last year I was the overall winner.  My first mentor was SSG Fred D. Jones, a positive influencer in my career since he became my squad leader in 1987. He taught me the value of being a discipline Soldier and showed me the passion to be the best while serving and making the Army a career.  

I took advantage of the transportation system and traveled all over Europe and I was there during one of the country’s biggest historical events, the Berlin Wall.  Harrison, H.  (2011) “Berlin Wall from 1989-1990 was the rapid work of thousands of individuals who took home their own personal souvenirs of the Wall—the so-called “wall peckers”—together with foreign governments, institutions, and private citizens who bought whole sections of the Wall and shipped them to more than 125 different locations on the globe, and not least the rapidly disappearing East German government which began the official demolition of the Wall on 13 June 1990” (pg. 79)  My career was moving into the right path, my life was in order and my parents were proud of me. After reenlisting to leave Germany I moved to Fort Bliss, Texas.