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EmilyBuiandafellowYoungMarinestandingguardattheTravellingWall.AReturnThatWasInspiredbyaCousinByYMPFCPatrickMcCoyBluegrassKYIreturnedtotheYoungMarinesprogramaftertakingafewyearsoff.OneofthereasonsIcamebackwasbecauseofmycousinCalvinParkerwhowasattheUSMCRe-cruitTrainingDepotatParrisIslandatthetime.InAprilIwasluckyenoughtoattendthegraduationofPFCCalvinParkerfromRecruitTraining.DuringtheceremonytheParrisIslandMarineBandledthegraduatingrecruitsontothefeldandIwasimpressedwiththeirabilitytoplayandmarchinforma-tionasIamcurrentlytakingbandinmiddleschool.AftergraduationPFCParkertookusonatourofthebase.WegottogototheParrisIslandMuse-umwherewelookedatallsortsofMarinememorabiliaandalsowatchedashortflmaboutParrisIslandanditsvasthistory.IhopetosomedayfollowinmycousinsfootstepsandbecomeafneoutstandingMarine.UntilthenIwillbethebestYoungMarineIcanbe.SheLovesAlltheActivitiesByYMPvtEmilyBuiSoutheastCountyCAIlovebeingpartofthisunit.BeingintheSoutheastCountyYoungMarinesteachesmeleadershiphowtoworkinateamfollowdirectionsanddisci-pline.BeachDayatHuntingtonBeachwastherstactivityIparticipatedin.Welearnedtosaynotodrugsplayedvolleyballjumpedintothewavesandfamiliesbroughtdeliciousfoodtoshare.Theoceanwatercooledusdownonthathotsunnyday.OurunitalsohadaFieldTimeGunSafetyclasswherewelearnedgunsafetyandevengottoshootatatarget.AtanairshowatMiramarinSanDiegowewatchedpeopledoingtricksinairplanesintheskyandalsogottogoinsidetheairplanesandtalkwithpilots.OneofthemostimportantthingswedidthisyearwasstandguardatthetravelingWallofRemembrance.Finallymyfavoriteeventwasthe1stBattal-ionBeachChallengeheldatNewportBeach.WedidArmycrawlsinthesandliftedweightboxesinplaceranamileanddidanobstaclecourserunningintiresnottomentionjumpingjacks.Ithelpedtobuildupmystrengthandwegotadogtagat-shirtandprizesMotivationandDedicationtotheUnitByYMSSgtMichaelaSalasStocktonCATherearemanyreasonsthatkeepmeintheYoungMarinesprogram.Therstreasonismotivation.ThereasonIsaythisisbecauseIrecentlywentthroughsomechallengesinmylifeandIwantedtogiveupbutmyfellowYoungMarinesgavememotivatingwordstokeepmeintheunit.ThesecondreasonisdedicationImadeapledgetoalwaysdomybestnomatterwhathappensandtodowhatIthinkisright.Thethirdreasonisfamily.InmyunitIthinkofeveryonethereasfamilywhenitstimeforworkwearecomradesbutonourdowntimesuchaschowwearefamily.ThefourthandnalreasonthatkeepsmeintheYoungMarinesisthecoreofmyunit.IamtoldthatIamthelifeandsouloftheunitwhichIknowtheyarerightabout.Iamalwaysgoingtobehereformyunit.TheyneedmeandIneedthem.ThatshowitisgoingtobeuntilIamdischargedfromtheYoungMarinesin2015.ByYMLCplJuliaAyersSwansboroNCHesitantandnervouswerethefeelingsIhadthedayIjoinedtheYoungMarines.AndnowIlookbackandwonderwhyIhesitatedintherstplace.InthebeginningIwaswaytooshytoeventalktoanyone.IamstillshybuttheYoungMarineshasraisedmyself-esteem.IvemademorefriendslearnedthingsthatrangedfromdrillmovementstowildernesssurvivalgainedmorerespectformyselfandfromothersandIalsobecamecloserwithmyfamily.MyfatherTimothyAyersisaMarinemyheroandmyinspiration.MymotherShannonAyersisaveteranMarine.TheybothhavebeenandstillaremybiggestinspirationbutIwasdi-agnosedwithDiabetesTypeIwhenIwaseightyearsoldsojoiningtheMarineCorpswouldbeextremelydifcultforme.EventhoughIfeelthatthisprogramisasfarasIllgettobeingaMarinemysisterMichelleAyersalsoaYoungMarinehasalwaysbeenbymysidetosupportandbelieveinme.IwillneverbeasthankfulforanythingasmuchasIamforherandneverwillIregretthedecisionImadethatdaytojointheSwansboroYoungMarines.TherearemanyreasonsthatkeepmeintheYoungMarinesprogram.NoRegretsFromthisInspiredYoungMarinestayingMOTIVATEDINVOLVEDandFOCUSED12Summer2013ESPRIT