Not everybody knows what they want to do from a young age, though most people have an idea. Some people pursue the career they had dreamt of since they were a kid, but for others, it could be as different as night and day. Or in Carlie’s case, a super star and a Navy sailor.
Carlie Simon graduated from Brewer High School in 2024 and has since been pursuing her newfound dream of being in the military. When Simon was young, she wanted to be someone in the performing arts like a singer, dancer or actress. Although they sound like opposite careers, they can have a slight relationship with each other.
“They don’t really have any relevance to each other, but I do think acting plays a part in being in the military,” Simon said. “They tell us all the time to have ‘military bearing’ even in the funniest or dangerous situations.”
Being in the military wasn’t always on Simon’s agenda. She decided what her path after high school would look like later on in her high school career.
“Currently, I just plan on being the best sailor I can be and keep growing as a leader,” Simon said. “I actually decided to join the military during the second semester of my senior year, and stuck to it even after Boot Camp.”
During high school, Simon had some amazing people in her life. Having great friends is important, but having even better teachers can be very significant to a student’s life.
“I can say that I don’t have one favorite teacher but two. Both Ms. Koke and Ms. Jones were the highlights of my whole high school experience,” Simon said. “I had Ms. Koke for two years and Ms. Jones for all four years.”
For Simon, these teachers meant a lot to her while she was in high school. They helped to guide her through the difficult times that come with being a student, and left a mark on her life that they probably never could have imagined.
“Ms. Koke taught Yearbook, and she taught me that I was actually a good leader and I can be talented in anything as long as I give it my all,” Simon said. “I was in Ms. Jones's theatre class, and she taught me a lot of social skills, and getting to know myself and letting my creativity show through everything I do is actually a good thing.”
Since she just recently graduated from Brewer, Simon holds the starting rank for every sailor in the Navy, an E-1. Although she enjoyed her high school years, Simon is loving her new role in the military.
“I actually really like the military because it makes me feel very independent and very smart, since my job is considered one of the more challenging ones,” Simon said. “I also get to meet a lot of cool people, and I’ve been to a few places so far that I’ve never been to before.”
Most people have someone in their life whom they look up to or someone who is always there for them. Fortunately, Simon has a figure like this in her life to go through this change with.
“I think the biggest influence that has been in my life currently would be my friend, Hart, whom I met in school,” Simon said. “We have done so much together, and he has supported me in everything, as I have with him. He consistently pushes me to be the best version of myself.”
Everyone in high school can take a little advice sometimes or use a few words of encouragement. High school can be difficult, but you just have to keep your head up for these four special years.
“Don’t rush to be an adult. Just because you see things happening around you doesn’t mean you have to participate in those things nor be like those things,” Simon said. “It’s okay to be different, and I know it’s scary, but at the end of the da,y you should do what is going to make you feel best about yourself. Live life to the fullest and live life with a purpose because every day is not guaranteed.”
Simon speaks from experience, as she is living her life to the fullest as a Navy sailor. She definitely represents the fact that you can be absolutely anything you put your mind to.