What I’ve Learned: Tiana Sayles

Photo By Sgt. Levi Schultz | Lance Cpl. Tiana Sayles, administration clerk, Headquarters Battalion, volunteers as the assistant coach for a youth soccer team on base. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores/Released)  

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

10.12.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

My mother was married to a soldier and so I moved quite often to places like Germany, Illinois and Hawaii; but Wichita Falls, Tex., will always be home for me.
Growing up as the middle sister out of three, I always wanted to be like my older sister. That meant getting in trouble to show how tough I was. Looking back on it now, the Marine Corps definitely put the discipline in my life that I needed.
Now that I’m in the Corps, I try to be the example for my younger siblings in my family. I hope that it inspires at least one of them to join the Marines.
I played basketball throughout junior high and the beginning of high school. I lost interest in the sport but love the comraderie that it had. The Marine Corps gave me that team mentally, to help out the brothers and sisters to my left and right before myself.
I joined Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in my junior year of high school. That’s when I realized that being a trouble maker was not going to get me anywhere.
I was going to enlist in the Army, but I decided to join the Marine Corps to give myself that extra push. It was the best decision I have ever made.
Whenever I do decide to get out, I plan on going back to Texas for my law degree. There is something about helping people that pushes me every day.
Once I get out of the Marine Corps I plan on taking time to travel around the world and see the many different cultures.
I’m an assistant coach for a youth soccer team on base. I chose to coach soccer because it keeps me really active and I enjoy the sport.
When I’m not busy and I’m not at work, I like to hang out with friends. I’m currently getting my driver’s license, so I spend as much time as I can driving on weekends.
The quote that I live by is, “Every morning you have two choices, continue to sleep with your dreams or get up and chase them.” I will always choose to chase them.

• Date Taken: 10.12.2016
• Date Posted: 10.12.2016 18:45
• Story ID: 211849
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US