Japan was Not Part of the Plan: Christine Bradshaw

Christine Bradshaw, Class of 2012, Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan

What are you up to? I am currently a live-in nanny for an American military family in Japan. So basically, I hang out with 4 of the cutest kids Monday through Friday and get paid for it. The oldest are home schooled, so I help with their schooling as well. Not a bad gig. When I'm not nannying I'm also a private English tutor. And when I'm not doing either of those I'm trying to navigate through Japan without getting lost.

How'd you get here? This past summer after graduating, I was a live-in nanny for part of the summer for a family living in the DC area. I had the best time ever. I got to live in a new area and explore DC, but unlike the 8th grade trip, I actually absorbed some of the significance. While nannying I was applying to every teaching job under the sun. I was determined to use my degree in elementary education to be a teacher right after graduation. In the beginning I didn't have much luck. Eventually I did receive a couple of job offers, but they were either not where I wanted to be or in a grade/setting I didn't want to work in. Fears of not having a job I loved, or worse (having to move back home) set in. I thought that maybe I should look into nannying because I really enjoyed myself while doing it. So the mother I was nannying for posted a Facebook status asking if anyone needed a nanny. Sure enough, she got a few responses and a few emails later my flight was booked for Japan.

What are your goals? I have no idea. Seriously, I thought about it and I really don't know. I'm kind of taking everything a year at a time because who knows what life will look like a year from now and where I'll be. Oh, but I definitely want to own a bunch of dogs and travel a bunch but no real adult goals yet.

Advice for WHS Students? You don't have to follow the path everyone else is taking. It was really hard for me a first to delay going into teaching because I thought that was what I was supposed to do. I stopped trying to live by a plan. Now I'm living in a new country, learning so many new things and I'm so happy I did it. Take risks, seize opportunities and blaze your own path. Life definitely doesn't go as planned.

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go? Galápagos Islands

Learning to Fly: 2nd Lt Zach Holmes

Zach Holmes, Class of 2012, Pensacola FL

What are you up to? I'm currently studying to become a Combat Systems Officer in the United States Air Force. It's like the old navigator position, but I could also be responsible for electronic warfare and/or all combat systems, depending on the aircraft I'm in. I'm basically a high-tech version of "Goose" from "Top Gun".

How'd you get here? I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in May, 2016 with a B.S. in Physics. I also commissioned as a 2d Lt in the United States Air Force, after going through ROTC.

What are your goals? I'm focused on getting through our rigorous training program first. After that, I'd love to be assigned to either an F-15E, an AC-130, or a B-1. They're really cool aircrafts. I also want to travel (a lot).

Advice for WHS Students? Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is the key to success. If you do poorly at something, take a step back from it, analyze the situation, and take the proper action to make sure you succeed at it the next time around, or learn a lesson from it. The only time failure hurts you is when you decide to ignore it or dwell on it.

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?  I would love to go to New Zealand. I've always wanted to hike across it.

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