Reflection: The act of taking time to think deeply about your experiences, actions, or emotions. With it being almost two months since I graduated high school and about a week until I head back to the U.S. for college, I’ve done a lot of reflecting. Not just over the past 4 years, but over my life in general and how far I’ve come. In 18 years, I've lived in 10 houses in 8 different places. I've moved 9 times. I've attended 7 schools. But most importantly, I can reflect on all

This article is part of the Bloom Spotlight series, where we aim to recognize current and former military teens who are doing amazing things. If you know a current or former military teen (regardless of age) who is impacting the military community in a way that deserves to be recognized, visit our Bloom Spotlight page. Allison Bryan is a rising high school senior and founder of Home Is Where the Heart Is, where she strives to connect military teens across the world. We inte

You’re sitting with new friends. Everything’s completely fine until a story comes up; a memory you don’t share with everyone else at the table, a subtle reminder that you weren’t a part of their lives up until recently. You bounce back after a few seconds, but that moment leaves a lingering feeling that you’re left out on years of memories that you alone don’t share with them, and that there are core memories between them that no amount of explaining will get you in on. These

Summers on a military base often turn out to be the polar opposite of the stereotypical “summer break” advertised by Disney Channel, where popsicles, slip ‘n’ slides, and pool days are replaced with difficult goodbyes, moving trucks, and dingy hotel rooms. The typical summer boredom that sets in for most teenagers in early August is amplified on a military base, merging with lots of the unknown to form a super-obstacle before the next school year. If you’ve ever faced the su

Moving is always hard, and not only for military teens. The smell of moving boxes, school paperwork, and saying goodbyes. Every time I look at a blank wall, I see something new—a blank canvas of possibilities. As a fellow military kid, I know how hard it is to fill up those giant voids surrounding you. Here are a couple of my favorite things to do and some meaningful and interesting things to display when moving into a new place, both inside and outside the house. Quirky Ad

Most people measure their lives by places. They remember the town they grew up in, the school they attended, or the neighborhood where they spent their childhood. I can’t recall many of those things, but I do remember the music I listened to in such places. As someone who has moved frequently, I have found that certain songs have become bookmarks for different chapters of my life. When I hear them, I can remember exactly where I lived when I discovered it. I remember being li

Moving to a new duty station right before or at the beginning of summer break can feel like terrible timing. Others might have friends, favorite places to go to, and plans in place, while you're still figuring out how to even get to your house. As a military teen, I’ve learned that not every summer has a busy social calendar, and one may end up with excess free time. However, even if not always ideal, summer doesn’t have to be wasted just because you haven’t found your people

The thing that everyone focuses on when you’re a military child, when meeting new people, is always the plethora of places you’ve likely lived—for myself, sprawled across a handful of countries across a handful of continents, I’m doubtlessly familiar with the details of how cool and interesting it was to get the opportunity to live abroad. But the adjective I hated the most was when they would say I was lucky. Off the bat, I don’t have any problem with the word luck; I’m luck

This article is part of the Bloom Spotlight series, where we aim to recognize current and former military teens who are doing amazing things. If you know a current or former military teen (regardless of age) who is impacting the military community in a way that deserves to be recognized, visit our Bloom Spotlight page . Leah Scarmeas is a senior in high school who is heavily involved and accomplished in pageantry. She holds the Miss South Carolina Teen USA title, achieved thr

When was the last time you compared yourself to someone around you? Comparing yourself to other people isn’t always a bad thing. Comparison can be constructive if it motivates you to do better, but more often than not, it can become a dangerous habit that must be broken. Comparing myself to others is something I personally struggle with, so I understand how it feels. I understand the discouragement it can bring. It's easy to fall down a rabbit hole of comparing yourself to ot

Recently, I had a conversation with my friend about our last few months of high school. As we discussed the changes we would soon face and the last few months before graduation, she said something that resonated with me. She explained that she was having a hard time being in the present, knowing that soon her community would completely change. At that moment, I realized that what she said applied to me not only as a senior in high school, but also as a military child -- and t

As someone who loves watching movies and TV shows, I often find myself wishing I could step into the lives of the characters I admire. Through these characters, despite some of them being fictional, I can connect with them and even find role models. As a military child, there are some characters with specific experiences that make me feel seen by reflecting certain aspects of my life. Harry Potter I am an AVID Harry Potter reader and movie watcher. Harry experiences many thin

One of the adjectives most commonly used to describe military teens is, without a doubt, "resilient." What does this look like in everyday life, though? How can you be resilient and persevere through life as a military teen despite all the challenges we face? B eing a military kid isn’t always easy, so let’s brave this journey together. Here at Bloom, there is a whole community of supportive military teens dealing with struggles similar to yours. Life already isn't easy, and

I've seen much discussion on my feed lately of "Gen Z's overwhelming Nostalgia." Our tendency to reminisce on everything "unimportant" -- a random place, an insignificant time, and even the past we may never have experienced. We often make Pinterest boards and edits of the 70s, 90s and every other time we didn't live, specifically the times before social media and smart phones. As I feel this storyline picking up more and more, I feel a definite truth in it. I think of every

As a military teen, I’ve never been able to actually choose where I went next. While my family has always had a say in the place we move to, I could never absolutely choose where. The military could always say, “Nope - you’re going here.” I’m currently a senior in high school, and I’ve spent the last three years ignoring the very prevalent question of “where do I want to go to college?” I couldn’t figure out where I want to move. I suddenly have the ability to choose, and I c

A big part of our lives as military teens is gratitude. You are likely already familiar with the importance of gratitude, so let this article serve as a simple reminder to pause and appreciate all the blessings in your life. It may seem clich é , but gratitude is truly one of the most valuable skills we can develop. This positive emotion is a key sustenance of our lives; it keeps us afloat amidst life's difficulties and centered on what is important to us. By practicing grati

From Hawaii to DC, and Pennsylvania to Texas, I'm no stranger to the "PCS Road Trip." With packing all the "essentials" - sleeping bags,...

Life - especially as a military kid - can be unpredictable. Sometimes, you might want a guide or emergency supplies to help you out. Many...

My whole life has been surrounded by sacrifice; in many ways, this is just the human experience. Whether it's sacrifices between parents...

This article was sent to us by Natalie S., an eighth grader stationed in Texas. Do you have a story to share with your fellow military...