Mom...Dad...I'm going to the navy...
I recently got accepted to the NROTC program at Prairie View A&M. The Navy is paying tuition, books, and fees, for all four years. All I gotta do is give them four years of service when I graduate. That means a guaranteed job after college for at least four years. Plus the Navy is something I've always wanted to do. So why is my family all pissed? I don't get it. What is with the whole stereotype that there is no place for minorities in the armed forces? Or more simply put Black people shouldn't join the military. All I'm getting is complaints from almost everybody in my family, like I'm just throwing my life away. Can somebody shed some light on this? It can't be that bad.
Congratulations on your decision. It's a great opportunity... people don't realize that today's military offers a lot in terms of benefits and career development. Also, over the past 25 years our armed forces have made a serious commitment towards diversity, and have produced countless African-American leaders in business and technology. You're not going into the same Navy your parents grew up with.
They are, however, probably worried about you going into active duty, especially the possibility that you'll be deployed overseas for a long period of time. But if that's OK with you, it can open up some great career opportunities for you. Best of Luck