Summer, how joyous you are to others, How warm and comforting I hear you are. Getting everyone so ecstatic to see you around the corner with the promise of a break. So why have you always skipped me? Summer, why don’t you give me the light of day? You give me no warmth, no comfort, no place to rest. Everyone else welcomes you like a long-lost friend, and I see you like any other day of the week, nothing special, nothing kind. I’ll never be excited for your arrival, not when

This article was sent to us by McKenna P., a college freshman at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana. Do you have a story to share with your fellow military teens? Visit our guest contribution page to find out how you can submit to Bloom! McKenna with her dad and younger brother in 2013. I hate this. I hate being the new girl. Why did my dad have to join the military? I wish I could just live in one place. Nobody is going to like me. I always have to leave.

This article was sent to us by Honor L., an 11th grader Navy brat stationed in California. Do you have a story to share with your fellow military teens? Visit our guest contribution page to find out how you can submit to Bloom! Many people think that the only time a military parent isn’t present is when they are on deployment. I’ve had trouble explaining to civilians over the years that just because my dad can’t make it to an event doesn’t mean that he is on deployment. In r

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

There’s a red sticker on my bedside table. Its edges are curled, the nine-digit number is fading. It’s one of hundreds slapped on our furniture by movers over the years. These stickers have followed me through seven moves and new schools. They've felt like an annoyance I tried to peel away. Now, the red sticker feels personal. It represents where I’ve been and who I hope to become. My earliest memory of the stickers was yellow ones in Texas (our second move). I spent hours pe

The shock of leaving, again Saying goodbye to my “not so close” friends, again Packing up my nicer clothes and beaten-up furniture, again...

This article was sent to us by Makenah V., an 11th grader stationed in Kentucky. Do you have a story to share with your fellow military...

“This already feels like home” you’re expected to say. After all, you have already moved many times. It already feels like home, as you...

When I was younger, I had no trouble calling my house a home. No matter how many times I moved, it always felt like home to me. However,...

My dad has served in the military my entire life. 16 years of moving. 16 years of deployments. 16 years of orders. But now, after 17...

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

Falling asleep, I always ask what house I’ll be in. Tonight, I find myself in a childhood kitchen. Tonight, I wish for a restaurant and...

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

A promotion is a significant occasion in the life of a service member. It is a milestone marking their ongoing commitment to service,...

Have you ever caught a scent of something and it instantly transported you to a vivid memory flooded with nostalgia? Maybe it’s the scent...

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

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...

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

My 20th birthday is fast approaching. I am not entirely sure how I feel about that. Turning 18 and going to college felt like steps...

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...