Starquasia Guevara

I was born in Brooklyn New York but raised in the Caribbean. My mother and father are both from Trinidad and Tobago where I was raised. My sister and I attended St. Bridget’s Roman Catholic school in Trinidad in a small town called Siparia. Life in Trinidad was amazing, but I always enjoyed my trips to the United States for the summer. At the age of 17 both my sister and I decided to move to America to finish our high school education in Virginia. I was introduced to the ROTC program which brought about my interest in the military.

After graduating I joined the Army National Guard so I could attend college. The experience in the military thought me a lot of things. I didn’t exactly see myself as a solider at first although I wanted to succeed in the military. I was the smallest and youngest in my platoon. A female Drill Sargent was the toughest on me. At the same time she encouraged me. She always made sure I knew I could do as well as the male soldiers in the platoon. Before graduation she told me that she loved the fact that I never complained although she could see that I was frustrated at times. Basic training showed me that I am capable of doing a lot more than I may allow myself to believe at times.

Not long after I graduated from both Basic training and Job Training in the Army I started school. I decided to study nursing after noticing I enjoyed taking care of others. I always found myself as the medic or the person to comfort my battle buddies during field training. Recently I decided to change my major to counselling. I have a passion for this field, helping others make better decisions.