Kyleen Watanabe

Story written by Kyleen Watanabe
As a child growing up I had a loving family. I was an entertainer, playing music and dancing with my mom, sister, and close family friends. As I got older I thought I was wiser than my parents. I hung around the wrong group of friends. My parents always told me "you become like those you hang around with" and I thought no, I have a mind of my own and I am not going to be like that. Of course my parents were right. I started to sneak out of my house and go drinking and skip out of school. My freshman year of high school I was doing good, passing classes but when it came down to school and friends, I chose my friends. I caused my family heartache after heartache. I would constantly sneak out of my house and lie to my parents about my where a bouts. My sister would try to cover up for me but I was over doing it. I chose my friends before my family, which was not a smart choice. It finally came to my junior year and I was just barely passing my classes. My parents gave me a choice, fail out of high school or YCA. I talked to a juvenile police officer from the Maui Police Department and he told me about YCA and I was open minded to it and I decided to go. I thought it was going to be a better choice so I could finish high school faster.

When I reached YCA I came to a rude awakening. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was scared and regretted joining. I stayed with it and just kept pushing myself. I also turned to my heavenly father and asked him to guide me and help me through this. Without God I don't know how I would've made it through those 5 months. It finally came down to the last week. I was very excited to graduate. I seen my parents in the front row and I held my head high and I was very proud of myself. I could see in my parent's eyes how proud they were of me. During the award ceremony I was surprised to receive the Leadership Award. I was very proud of myself that I had accomplished so much and so much more respect from my parents and family.

After leaving YCA I joined the United States Air Force. I was excited to leave and start a new life and have a successful career. Four months before I was supposed to leave for the Air Force I found out that I was pregnant. I was devastated and very disappointed in myself. I had a hard time telling my family especially my mom and dad. So I did not leave to join the Air Force after that. I disappointed my family once again in my life. I changed my life after that because I knew I was about to bring another person into the world. My son's father was not there for me and I was by myself with my family right behind me. Where was my friends, no where, my family was there to help. I got everything in order to my son that was coming and I was ready to become a mother. My family was proud of me again for seeing me change and get my life and priority straight. On my delivery day of my son I was excited and couldn't wait, until I got bad news from my nurse. They couldn't find my son's heartbeat and told me that my son had passed away. When I heard that I just thought my whole world came crashing down. I didn't know what to do. My son was going to be my life and now he was gone. I was depressed for a while and didn't want to do anything. I was taking sleeping pills, antidepressants and pain killers. I just didn't want to do anything.

I finally came around and told myself that I did not want my son to see his mommy like this and wanted to do something for myself to make my family proud and my son. So I re-enlisted into the United States Air Force and signed my contract once again. I left for basic in January and graduated Tech School in May. I was so proud of myself and my family too. Now I live in Missouri at Whiteman Air Force Base and I did all of this in less than a year. My son made a year while I was in Missouri and I was so proud of myself that I did it in less than a year. I joined the Air Force and made it to my first base and also deployed to the sand box in a year. I never thought I could do so much in a short amount of time.

I an thankful to YCA for putting me back together and showing me what life has to offer and making me be a stronger and better person inside and out. If I never went I think I would've been worse than what I was. I don't regret anything in my life because it all taught me a lesson and more important a life lesson which I am still learning everyday. Joining the Air Force was a good decision and I am loving it. I get to see so much of the world and learn new skills everyday and receive training that you don't receive in civilian life. I am a new better person and living life to its fullest and using all my knowledge to the best of my ability. Every person has that willpower in them, they just need to reach down and want to use it to have the full use of it. If a person does not want to change it will not work. They have to want to change to change. No matter where you come from and what your situation, just remember someone out there has it harder. Thank you for letting me share my success story of my life.

A1C Kyleen Watanabe
United States Air Force