Joining the Army in wartime: enlisting wasn't a tough decision for Kalynn House; dealing with reactions from friends and neighbors was much harder.

• Author: House, Kalynn
• Position: VOICES

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In August 2006, just before I started my senior year in high school, I enlisted in the Army. Since then, I've run into a lot of people who ask why I signed up knowing that we are at war.

There are actually many reasons I want to be a soldier, starting with my interest in new personal experiences, the training I'll receive, and my desire to better understand what soldiers from previous wars experienced.

In addition, I believe that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are necessary, and that if we were to pull out now, we would be under constant attack from terrorist organizations.

LOSING FRIENDS

It hasn't been easy living where I do--Port Townsend, Wash., across Puget Sound from Seattle--since I enlisted. It's generally a very liberal area. Most residents are Democrats and very outspoken about their opposition to the war in Iraq. I feel like people there have a negative view of me because of my decision to join the Army.

Even school was hard last year. (I enlisted before my senior year, but I had to graduate before I could start basic training.) I had a teacher who liked to challenge me in class about my choices, and he put down my ideas when we disagreed.

He wasn't the only one who didn't approve of my decision to enlist: I lost a few friends who so strongly oppose the war in Iraq that they could not accept my joining the Army.

But fortunately, most of my friends have stuck by me, even those whose opinions are very different from my own.

I plan to volunteer to go to Iraq if possible within a year after finishing my training. I know the dangers that I'll face, but I would rather be over there doing...