The Bittersweet Reality of High School Stabilization

High school stabilization: something my family never thought we would apply for. We’ve always been the type of people who go with the flow and 'bloom where we are planted.' We’ve thought that it is important to understand that where you end up is part of a greater plan.

High school stabilization is a program that the Department of Defense has to allow military teens to graduate from their current high school. My family and I recently found out that we are approved for high school stabilization. This has created a weird conglomeration of emotions for me.

While this all sounds amazing, it creates a very bittersweet feeling for me. I have always wanted to move overseas, and this means that I most likely will not while I am an Army brat. I’ve witnessed many friends learn they are PCSing somewhere overseas when, at the same time, I learn that I’m going to somewhere like Texas (but Texans, please don’t kill me, I love your barbecue). I have also seen friends live overseas multiple times while l stay in the States.

However, I am also very happy that we were approved for this program. I was able to move back to Northern VA and see friends that I hadn’t seen for many years. I am able to continue playing the sport that I love. I am able to reach leadership positions in multiple clubs. To know that I will graduate from this amazing part of the country brings a great feeling. Additionally, while I have been able to do great things with Bloom because it is a global organization, my current location has enabled me to do many amazing things with Bloom such as attending the State of the Military Child conference and speaking with the Secretary of Education.

Overall, it is wonderful to know that I will graduate surrounded by many friends from my current school. I will be able to say that I graduated from somewhere that I can really call home. While I do believe that each duty station is part of a greater plan, I now know it is okay to stay in one place for longer than expected, and high school stabilization is not just an “easy way out.”