Bound By Pride

Serving in the military was a very complicated experience for me. When I look back on it, I feel a strong sense of pride, camaraderie, and respect, but these feelings are always tinged with stress and anxiety. I felt weighted down, constantly chained to my duty as a service member. But I also took pride in my duty to uphold our Constitutional rights, and I am proud of my sacrifice to something bigger than myself.

To serve in the military, we must sacrifice our own rights in defense of others. This sacrifice was a voluntary choice, and it’s a personal choice every service member has made at the risk of their own lives. I may not always agree with the practices of the military, but I will always be proud of my service.

I wanted to capture this juxtaposition of being weighted down by the military, while also upholding the basic human rights I feel every American is entitled to.