Downplay the Daunting Obstacle

A snapshot of my life (and the speech I gave at my sister's wedding)

I was so sleep deprived—can't even remember this photo being taken. Probably 6th week of basic training; no memory of it. 17 years old. 2007.

To mark the Fourth of July, I figured I’d re-post this uncut version of a personal essay, along with the transcript of the speech I gave at my sister’s recent wedding.