As I was planning out my post schedule, I realized I hadn’t even properly introduced myself yet! I mean, sure there’s a welcome post and I have an About Me page, but there’s so much that those two don’t cover. So I picked nine of the things that most people probably don’t know about me to share with you today!

1. I was mobilized with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. I got to spend nine months in the beautifully boring desert of Kuwait in 2014. I was an excellent learning experience for me both in my military career and as a person. I did quite a bit of growing up while I was there. I learned a lot about myself and it made me a stronger person. I enjoyed it. 
2. I taught swimming lessons when I was in high school. I was also a lifeguard. The two were at the same pool and it was my summer job for three years. It was super fun and I really miss it. I had a blast teaching the kids to love the water as much as I always have.
3. I was in a beauty pageant. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school when I was 14. It was the Miss Teen of Wisconsin Scholarship and Recognition Program’s annual event and I had tons of fun. I wound up winning the best overall award for the 14-year-old age division.
4. I was an Honor Graduate at my Basic Training for the Army. I was one of three that got the award for my company of almost 200 soldiers. That meant that I was the top of my platoon. I had the third highest physical fitness score in my platoon and one of the highest marksmanship scores. I had the highest female in my platoon and the second highest female physical fitness score in the company. It was the fourth highest physical fitness score in the company. It was a great, difficult time in my life and I’m so glad I did it.
5. I know how to knit and cross-stitch. I also know how to tie off a homemade quilt. I learned the knitting from my mother’s mother and I learned the cross-stitch and the quilt tying from my father’s mother. These are skills that I wish I was better at, but unfortunately, my limited patience makes it incredibly difficult to sit down and work on them. Maybe someday I’ll get good enough to finish a whole project.
6. I am a Brand Ambassador for Wildin’ Clothing Company out of Madison, Wisconsin. I am also in the process of becoming a product model for them. They are an awesome company that creates clothing lines focused on a specific endangered animal. Part of the profits from their sales is donated to the protection and preservation of endangered animals. The current lines are for the red wolf, polar bear, and tigers. If you use this link and enter code EMMAJUNEAU15 when shopping you’ll receive 15% off!   
7. I know how to drive a school bus. I was licensed by the Army prior to being sent to Kuwait. I have only gotten the opportunity to actually drive a bus once since I took the test, but it’s kinda cool to be able to do it. Also, it’s not quite as easy as you’d think it is to get the hang of the corners.

8. I am a certified Combat Life Saver in the Army and I am certified in First Aid/AED/CPR by the American Heart Association. The Combat Life Saver course is a first aid course on steroids focused on combat-related injuries to include explosion and gunshot wounds. I got the AHA certification through one of my civilian jobs. I’ve always tried to maintain that certification as I’ve found it’s helpful to have just in case. You never know when you might need to help someone.
9. One of my front teeth is actually dead. If you look closely you can see that one is slightly discolored. When I was a teenager I had braces and I got it knocked out in an accident. Since it was still in my mouth, they were able to save it. I had a two-part root canal and had it bleached from the inside. It was painful, but I have a good story now.

There you go! Nine things you probably didn’t know about me before you read this! I hope you enjoyed learning more about me as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

Happy Adventuring!