Jason Sobol:
CLASS OF 2003
Elkhart Central High School (1973-present)Class of 2003
Elkhart, IN
Shawnee Mission West High SchoolClass of 2003
Shawnee mission, KS
Jason's Story
Really, my story? It's nothing special, I assure you. At least, not in my eyes. In high school, those who remember me might say that I was a brat, immature, a jerk, self-centered, arrogant, and annoying. Which I suppose I have to admit was very true in most aspects. Even so, I tried to make friends, though I see that I went about it in...not the best of ways. My social skills were truly lacking.
I had officially signed up for the U.S. Army in Feb. of 2002, and having served for a number of years, and I currently still do in the National Guard. I was there for the assistance with the Hurricane Katrina for about a month and a half, and one combat tour in Iraq that spanned for a year. That combat tour began in May '07, and I came home in May of '08.
Between Shawnee Mission West and the combat tour in Iraq, I finished my last year of high school in Indiana, at Elkhart Central High School, only after completing Basic Combat Training for the Army. My Senior year...I hadn't changed much. I was stronger, and somewhat more arrogant still, I admit, knowing that I had been through boot camp, and was part of the military. Not the best mindset of course. School in Indiana wasn't much different than it was in Kansas, in terms of my attitude. I was a fool.
After graduation, I found a job, first one being at McDonald's, which quite honestly blew. I hated it. I ended up leaving that job to find improvement at a wood shop. There too, I hated it. Many jobs I've been through, and one that I did find that I actually did enjoy was while I was working through a Temp service that finds jobs. I was released as the company was downsized.
Eventually, my career with the army, I felt was...dull. I had originally signed on as a cook. Yup, food specialist. I got tired of that though, and re-classed as an infantryman. One of the hardest things I had done in my life was going through that period of instruction. I did well though, despite the difficulty, and was able to keep my head high, remain the optimist, and at the end, it paid off. I was awarded the Honor Graduate of the Cycle. In other words, the soldier who put in the most, sacrificed the most, and did everything possible to get the mission done while keeping moral o...Expand for more
f himself, and the others around him up.
That school ended, and shortly after, I received orders to be deployed to Iraq. Iraq...such a hot country in the summer, and incredibly cold in the winter. I have been shot at, I have felt the concussion that incurs from nearby mortar rounds that explode, I have accomplished things I never thought I would. There really isn't much for me to say about the combat tour, mostly because I simply wish not to say much about it. But, there are things that stick out in my mind that I can easily talk of. Christmas, for example, was quite possibly the most depressing day I've ever known. I have always been one for family, and that year...It was the first I'd been away, for so far, for so long. I moved on though, Months later, the ceremony of us leaving. I couldn't wait. There was a dust storm though that prevented us from being able to fly out though, due to visibility reasons. I quickly changed to being pretty irritated. But we did come home, and I was so very happy. Words just can't describe the feeling of being back on home soil, back with family, back with friends...nothing can explain it enough.
That tour, like I said, ended in '08. Since then, I've traveled a bit, from the east coast, to the west coast, attending conventions, and just places to see. I've always been quite the nerd, and I still love my tech, my games, and my anime. I have begun drawing, I find it relaxing, and I enjoy it, even when I can't quite get something to look the way I want. I also play a bit of piano, though I can only play by ear.
Current day, I sit here unemployed, much to my dismay, and I try to find somewhere that is hiring. I have one last ditch effort that I'm willing to make though...I recently re-enlisted in the military, the first contract having expired. I am going to look across various states. If that doesn't work, I suppose I could always take to going full active duty army. This is pretty much my story. Again, I don't see it as much, but maybe you will. Who knows? The key question is, are you still interested enough to ask me if I remember you? Or are you going to just pass this off and forget me completely?
Your choice. I use AIM primarily, and my username is Rahvine.
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