By Matt Browning
Mariah Heron from Derby has a close connection to the military as her dad is an active Air Force member.
Every two years, Heron and her family have to move. They have lived in seven different locations in her life, which has been hard.
“It’s hard to adjust to new changes, new schools, making new friends and finding new sports teams to join,” Heron said. “Having family in the military has affected me in good and bad ways. Positively, I get to meet different people, and I also get to see new places that a lot of other people don’t get that option to see. Negatively, you can’t get to attached where you are stationed at, because you will always know that you are going to have to pack up and leave.”
Heron has to find the balance of positive and negative emotions when it deals with her life and the subsequent life changes that happen so often.
“Having a family member in the military is a mix of emotions,” Heron said. “On one hand, I feel incredibly proud of my dad’s service and the sacrifices that he makes for our country. It’s a source of inspiration and admiration. But it’s not always easy. There are times when I miss my dad dearly, especially during deployment or when he can’t be with us for special occasions.”
