Journal 4

When it comes to formal dress, I feel like most things come naturally to me, now. Rewind to four years ago, and I wouldn’t have known to wear matching belt and shoes, or to wear an undershirt, or to find tie that had similar colors to the rest of my outfit. And, the most cringey part of it would have been that I would probably still have a stupid bowl cut. I shiver at the through now, but my perspective has changed so much because of one major part of my High School Career. JROTC. Being in JROTC has changed almost everything about how I was four years ago, from how I talk to people, how I style my hair, and how I make decisions. Dress Code was the number one priority for my instructor, Command Sergeant Major Michael Franklin, and so long hair (if it was touching your eyebrows) was out. Baggy clothing, bad posture, and inattentiveness to who is speaking were all major sins in his class, and he enforced them well. On top of that, every Wednesday we were to wear our Army Dress Uniform, with all the medals, nametags, and rank badges in perfect position, or we wouldn’t get a grade for that day. This experience every week for three years has made dressing formally very natural, and ascrace Military Ball or formal dance has also prepared me for dressing well. The last influence on my dress code would have to be my Dad, as he would give me pointers on how to dress for an interview, and he drilled into my head that making a first impression to your employer is an amazing way to ensure you are remembered. Now I feel that when I have to dress up for anything, I can pick out an outfit in less than a minute, and get ready in five.