Lily, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Winner
April 6, 2023
Lily, 15, was selected as OMK's Courageous Kids Contest winner in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve category!
Lily and her brother Christian have both received OMK activity grants to cover Color Guard and football fees during their father's deployment.
Q&A with Lily
What are your current favorite after-school activities and/or hobbies? What do you love about them?
My favorite after school activities are Color Guard, photography, singing, and playing music. I like them because I get to express myself creatively. It’s also a great and healthy emotional outlet.
To you, what does it mean to be a military kid? How has your parent's service made an impact in your life?
To me, being a military kid is a huge responsibility. It means having to understand many mature things at a young age as well as being ok with them, even if they’re simplified for the age you’re at.
My dad’s service in the military has impacted my life in many ways. It has given me many great opportunities, including access to things that civilian kids may not be able to access. However, it also creates a lot of distance, whether it be a deployment or a regular work day.
Do you have any advice for fellow military kids?
Some advice I have for other military kids is to figure out who you are. You can’t always rely on having others around you, so you have to make sure that you know who you are first. You have to be able to rely on yourself.
Also, find something that makes you happy. When times get tough, it will get you through life’s challenges.
Lily's Story
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"Lily didn’t pick this lifestyle but she’s embraced it. It’s the only life she knows. She endured countless deployments and DETs, which meant having her dad away. In that time, she stepped up to the plate as the oldest of three children without being asked." "Her dad is a Crew Chief and Weapon and Tactics instructor. Last year, there was a mishap where he was supposed to be flying. Without missing a heartbeat, she went into protective mode taking care of her siblings so I could focus my attention on getting information. This isn’t the first time she’s reacted this way to situations. It’s just a natural response for her." "Lily is also a L.I.N.K.S. teen mentor at a Marine Corps Air Station. In these workshops for children, she has lead topic discussions about the military lifestyle and how to overcome challenges that only military children truly know about." "Lily is also a member of her high school’s Color Guard team. She will take the time to practice and help any of her teammates. Lily enjoys tutoring others and helping those in need at school and within her community. A few times a month she volunteers her time before school to read with Kindergartners at her previous elementary school. With all the challenges she has had to endure, she has not allowed them to define her." |
