Who do you think you are? Published Feb. 9, 2007 By Holly MacDonald 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Recently I have become more aware of problems Airmen are having. I have written stories on the Culture of Responsible Choices and the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program, and attended an Air Force fatality briefing and victim advocacy training. I have also written stories on Airmen receiving medals, being accepted to Tops in Blue, and the base honor guard. I wanted to know what separated these award-winning Airmen from the others. It was then I realized that I could've very well been an alcohol-related statistic. I lived the life of mediocrity, not having pride in anything I did short of out-drinking one of my friends. I made excuses for years about why I couldn't be more. "I can't go to school. My schedule is unstable." "I don't want to conform to the mold of the military; It's not who I am." "I'll start working out when I have more time." "I definitely don't have time to volunteer for anything." I honestly didn't think I could be the "stellar" Airman. I was sure all the people who excelled in the Air Force were motivated by something that I just didn't have. Motivation must have been hereditary and it clearly wasn't in my blood. I didn't understand how they had the time and energy to accomplish all they did. I later discovered the only thing they had that I didn't was the right attitude. Shaw Air Force Base has whipped me into shape. I reported to Shaw in June and the last eight months have done a complete turn around. I went from throwing on a flight suit every morning and blending in with the other 100 or so Airmen in the operations squadron to having a pressed uniform and being one of two Airmen in the Public Affairs office, down the hall from the wing commander and the command chief. Another surprise was when I was told I would be a physical training leader. All the excuses I had for exercising were null and void. Once I got into a routine and became knowledgeable about exercise, it became easier. Now I encourage others to exercise. I'm not the same person I was a year ago.I discovered the problem. I thought I was mediocre, so I was. I realized I couldn't sit around and wait for things to happen to me. I had to take charge of my future. Looking back on the past three years, I can honestly say that I accomplished nothing more than a high tolerance for vodka. I don't know about you, but that doesn't make me feel very good. Three years from today I want to look back and say, "Wow, I have come a long way." When I think back to all of the time I had in those three years to go to school, I am disappointed in myself. The truth is the only thing that can be done now is to get started. Last semester, I enrolled for the first time in college. If I had started at my last base, I would be a year away from completing my bachelor's degree. You can be anything you want to be; it's not just a saying your parents tell you when your young to make you feel good. It's not always easy, but if you suck it up for a while and stop wasting your time and energy on temporary pleasure and focus on fulfilling a future plan, you can do something great. Start with small steps. Don't overwhelm yourself with trying to change overnight because you will fall right back into your old routines. Make a plan for yourself. If you don't know what you want to do or be, you're not the only one. The good news is the first two years of college are general education. Just get started and go through it. It may take a little time to adjust to studying and having a busier schedule, but you can always start with one class and if you feel comfortable enough to handle more, take two classes the next semester. And the Air Force pays 100 percent of tuition. Do I need to say anything more here? Take pride in your uniform. Not only is a wrinkled uniform unattractive, it's unprofessional. I feel better knowing I can run into the commander or the chief at any time and know my uniform is on point. Ladies, just put your hair up within regulation standards, it looks better and it's professional. Save the chief a headache. There are a million other ways to improve yourself and to grow into the person you want to be. Nobody says they want to grow up to be a deadbeat. What it all comes down to is: Who do you think you are? Are you mediocre ... or are you someone great?