Embracing My Next Chapter: From Military to Drag

When I sat down to write this first blog, I wasn't really sure where to start. My life is changing in ways I never expected, and if I'm being honest, that's equal parts exciting and terrifying.

For the last 15 years, the military has shaped almost every part of who I am. It gave me purpose, structure, lifelong friendships, and experiences I'll carry with me forever. I thought I had my future mapped out: serve until I was 46, retire with pride, and then figure out what came next.

Life had other plans.

Leaving the military ten years earlier than I expected wasn't something I chose. It forced me to let go of an identity I'd spent years building. For a while, it felt like I was just trying to survive—getting through each day, adapting to whatever came next, and hoping I'd eventually find solid ground again.

Somewhere along the way, though, I realized I didn't just want to survive anymore.

I wanted to build a life that actually felt like mine.

For me, that path led to drag.

If you had told me years ago that I'd be pursuing life as a drag king, I probably would've laughed. Now it's one of the things that makes me feel the most alive. It's creative, vulnerable, challenging, and completely outside my comfort zone—and that's exactly why I love it.

Drag isn't about pretending to be someone else. If anything, it's helped me become more myself. It's given me the confidence to explore parts of my personality I'd kept tucked away for years. It has challenged me to be bolder, more authentic, and more willing to take up space.

This blog is going to follow that journey.

Some posts will be about drag—performances, wins, mistakes, and everything I'm learning along the way. Others will be about leaving the military, rebuilding my life, mental health, finding community, and figuring out who I am beyond a uniform.

I don't have all the answers. There will absolutely be setbacks, awkward moments, and probably a few spectacular failures mixed in with the victories. But that's part of starting over.

My goal isn't perfection. It's growth.

If sharing my experiences helps someone else feel a little less alone, or gives them the courage to chase something that scares them, then it'll be worth every vulnerable post.

So here's to new beginnings. Here's to taking chances, embracing change, and creating a life that feels authentic.

Thanks for being here at the very beginning. I have no idea exactly where this road is going, but I'm excited to find out.