I have always strongly believed in the philosophy that states:

“A true warrior knows that the pen is mightier than the sword, but he sure as hell knows how to use the sword.”

Although I am a bit late to the game compared to most, it is my time to learn to use the sword. For most of my life I have pursued meritocracy to the fullest while living in a world where mediocrity is accepted, even the recommended path, while the opposite is said. That is exactly why I have not necessarily fit in with my peers throughout my life. Speaking figuratively, while most people talk the talk, they hardly ever walk the walk. I have always done what is necessary, what is required of me, chosen the hard path, the road less traveled and it has set me outside the norms of my peer groups.

While most of my peers went through college being supported by their parents and working for beer money; starting at 17, I’ve worked 60+ hour weeks while in school full-time supporting my mother and sister, who also worked. All this while my father went back to India to take care of his mother after his older brother’s passing, working to manage the swaths of property his father left to him and his brothers. Everything in my life has led up to this moment, I wouldn’t change a thing; it has made me who I am. I choose to follow the path of the few, the proud, as it is exactly what I need to do to build myself into the warrior that I am. It is what I see as required by me to give back and to serve the country that has given me tremendous opportunity. With 0.07% of the United States population either active duty or reserve Marines at a given time, it is the road less traveled, it is my path to pursue.

In my daily prayers there is a part in Arabic from Sura Al-Fatihah in the Qur’an that goes:

IHDINAS-SIRATAL-MUSTAQIM

SIRATAL-LADHINA AN’AMTA ‘ALAYHIM

GHAYRIL-MAGHDUBI ‘ALAYHIM

WA LAD-DAL-LIN [1:6–7]

This translates to:

Guide us to the right path

The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favours

not of those cursed ones

And nor of those who have gone astray

This is the path that I have been guided upon, all that is left is for me to prove to those whom I need to prove that I am worthy of being a United States Marine. I will end with a quote from the legendary warrior monk, Retired Marine General James “Mad Dog” Mattis:

“The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some sh–heads in the world that just need to be shot. There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.”

By my discipline, I choose to be a hunter, a United States Marine, and to protect those that cannot protect themselves, to fight for what is right, for our way of life.

Semper Fidelis.