Year: 9th gradeAge: 15School: Matthew C. Perry High School, Iwakuni, JapanPlaces lived: Oceanside, Calif.; Jacksonville, N.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Iwakuni, JapanFavorite assignment: MCCS Iwakuni, JapanWhat is your favorite keepsake or souvenir? I don’t have any physical items that represent a keepsake, but my memories, pictures, and experiences are the souvenirs I’ll that will always stay with me.Plans for the future: My plans are to finish high school, wherever we are stationed next (most likely Texas), and go to college in California.

I’ve grown to accept my unconventional fate as a military child. Living in a foreign country is an amazing experience, but by my third year in Iwakuni, I was more than ready to pack up my bags and head back to the States.

But something happened when I started eighth grade at Matthew C. Perry. I made tons of new friends, took some challenging classes, and — most importantly — got involved. I wrote for the school newspaper, joined the cross country team and played soccer on the high school team. That year, I was able to fully experience the base and all of its perks. It was the year that I slowly — very slowly — grew to love Iwakuni. That summer I again said goodbye to a lot of good friends. But as September approached, I felt almost anxious to start school again. I was no longer scared of starting the year off with new classes and new friends. In fact, the prospect made me wish that school would start earlier.

That year, I undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of my school life. I knew everyone in school, played tennis and soccer and participated in countless after-school activities. I also played in the high school jazz band, became co-editor of the school newspaper and met some really cool people — all the while maintaining a 3.8 GPA.

I noticed a recognizable difference in myself. I walked down the hallways with confidence and purpose, feeling comfortable with myself and everyone else around me.

But then my parents began talking about moving; we are scheduled to leave in March 2010. The old me would’ve been ridiculously eager to move stateside, but the person who I am now isn’t eager at all. I have literally grown up on this base and am a completely different person.

Now, when I make my way to a new high school, I won’t think twice about making friends, joining sports teams or doing extracurricular activities, because I thrived at MC Perry. And who’s to say I can’t do so anywhere else I go?

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