My Life as a Military Child, By Brian Burke, Age 12

I have been a military child for my whole life and I've lived overseas for as long as I can remember. Being a military child and living overseas provides a number of opportunities, such as interaction with other military kids and host country nationals. Living overseas also provides a chance to visit historic landmarks and other interesting places. I have lived on the island of Sicily since I was five years old and have visited almost every country in Europe. Some of the things I love and love doing I would not have discovered if I wasn't a military child and had not moved to Italy.

Living abroad enables military kids to develop qualities that civilian kids may not acquire as quickly. Many military kids have developed similar qualities because they are what they are—kids in military families. Qualities such as being more accepting, being more trusting, and being able to make friends and reach out to people are part of every military kid. These are just a few of the extraordinary qualities we share.

I joined the Student 2 Student program at my school because I know what it is like to be new to a school, and know that it can be challenging. I want kids to feel accepted. In the Student 2 Student program, I show new students around the school and show them where important sites are, like the library, cafeteria, gym, nurse, bathrooms and their classes. I don't just show them around, I am very often one of their first friends at the school.

Most kids in America do not have to move once in their life. Some military kids have to move as many as eight times before they graduate from high school. I think that moving is a speed bump not a road block. And I think that it is an opportunity for many things.

Because of being a military child, I now see the world as an adventure that I can go on and learn and experience new things.