Q&A with Stephanie Pridell
Social Worker on the With You All the Way USO Tour
Stephanie Pridell is a Social Worker who was part of the With You All the Way USO Tour. She spoke with thousands of military children about the challenges they face. Having grown up in a military family, Stephanie brought a unique perspective to the tour and a connection to military children. Here is a Q&A with Stephanie about her experiences on the USO Tour and what Memorial Day means to her.
What has it been like being on the With You All the Way USO Tour?
I couldn’t imagine a better opportunity. Having grown up in a military family myself, I have always felt a special connection to other military members and children in military families. It has been an incredible journey, which has allowed us to speak to over 60,000 children in the last 9 months all over the country. During the tour we have had silly adventures and laughs, shared some tears and stories, and really grown to understand some of the challenges these brave kids are facing.
Q: What are some of the most common issues you’ve seen that military children face?
A number of military children around the country are faced with long separations from a loved one in the form of deployments or long-term combat training. Often, we find that these kids are having a difficult time managing the emotions they are carrying, and are not quite sure what to do with their feelings of anxiety, frustration, or sadness. It’s also not uncommon for some military kids to be faced with a divorce in the family. Deployments can cause strain on family relationships, and we have spoken to many kids who are dealing with a divorce and a deployment at the same time. One of the neat things we offer on this tour are some coping strategies for kids to use under these circumstances, an avenue to build more positive, peer-to-peer connections, and a list of supportive people in their world whom they can turn to when they are experiencing difficult feelings. I think one of the most important aspects of the tour is that we are attempting to bring these issues to the forefront so people are more aware of what these kids are going through.
Q: Coming from a military family yourself, has the USO Tour made you see your childhood differently?
I grew up in a loving, supportive, family. I was taught as a child that my family members were the ones I could count on throughout the separations, the moves, and any hardships that came along with being in a military family. As we have been touring, I have had the opportunity to speak to kids who are going through similar circumstances. It has really allowed me to empathize with their experience, and has caused me to reflect on my own experiences growing up. I am so happy I can be an additional support to the children who come from a background similar to mine. Looking back, I really wish I had had the opportunity to speak with someone who had been through the same things I was going through. Speaking with these children has really made me proud of my background and has allowed me to understand the importance of my role as a military child. It has also opened my eyes to all of the positive things that are often overlooked about growing up in a military family. One of my personal goals is to help kids see some of the positive aspects of being a military kid, and see the value of their sacrifices. When you have to learn flexibility, hard work, and how to adjust to new situations as a child, you are often in a better place for success as an adult.
Q: You lost someone close to you. Can you talk about who you lost and why Memorial Day is important?
On August 30th, 2010 I received word of two Fort Carson soldiers who were killed by an IED in Afghanistan; One of those soldiers being the person I loved, 1LT Mark Noziska. The other soldier was in Mark’s platoon, Staff Sgt. Casey Grochowiak. In that very second, I lost the person who always found a way to make me laugh, a person who had dried my eyes many times, and a person whom for a long time I considered one of my dearest friends. Mark was someone I saw in my future, and learning that I would never again hear his laugh, hold his hand, or even see his smile was something I wasn’t prepared to accept. In that second, the Army lost two people who believed in their mission. They willingly put their own lives at risk to keep Americans and their loved ones safe at home. Mark was a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, and the person I loved. Casey was a father, a husband, and a friend to so many. At Mark’s funeral, hundreds of people lined the streets with American flags honoring his sacrifice and what he left behind. Words can never describe an experience like that; It is something you have to feel. People came together on that day and really felt his sacrifice. Memorial Day is something I hope people can feel as well. Somewhere out there is a mother who will be spending Memorial Day remembering her son. Somewhere out there is a child who no longer has a father but is bursting with pride for what their father sacrificed for his country. On this Memorial Day, it is my hope that we can really take a moment to think about the thousands of brave men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty to protect the people and country they love so much. It is my hope that Memorial Day is not seen simply as a day off, but as a time to come together and be with our loved ones and to remember those families who cannot. And finally, it is my hope that we can all take a moment to thank those who continue to risk everything to keep us safe.
