I entered Colégio Naval through a competitive public exam and became part of the military at 16. Colégio Naval is a Brazilian Navy boarding high school and one route toward an officer career in Brazil. After high school, students may continue to Escola Naval, the Brazilian Naval Academy, to study Naval Sciences. This path is specific to Brazil, and military education works differently in other countries.

I am not saying that a military career is right for everyone. Training has real difficulties, and people have different goals. It was valuable for me, especially because it happened early in life.

The program followed a boarding-school routine. For years, I only went home on weekends. That is demanding enough between the ages of 16 and 18. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the boarding routine continued without the possibility of going home. It was a difficult period that demanded a lot from me and my classmates.

Military life also tests expectations and frustrations. You expect something to be done one way and find out it will happen another way. Training courses are tiring, repetitive, and full of unexpected changes. Over time, I learned to deal with that better.

Some classmates chose paths outside the military. Today they are doctors, analysts, software professionals, lawyers, and people who passed other Brazilian public-service exams. The military did not teach them each profession. What I see in common is the ability to stay disciplined and keep working when the task stops being enjoyable.

“Do what needs to be done when it needs to be done” sounds simple. In practice, it takes consistency. Try studying three hours a day for three months without reaching for your phone during breaks, and the difficulty shows up. The task may be simple; doing it without an immediate reward is something else.

During the program, I stood many overnight watches, some between midnight and 4 a.m. They usually meant standing, doing rounds, or carrying out basic tasks. Sleeping or sitting was not allowed. Most of the time, no one was watching. Choosing to follow that rule, guided by a personal sense of honor, was one way I built discipline and resilience.

These qualities can also be developed outside the military. The training simply placed me in a routine where the demand was unavoidable. For someone who has an opportunity to experience a structured program, it can be useful before deciding whether to pursue that career. There will be parts you do not like, and some people will disappoint you. Even so, the experience can teach you a great deal.