Page 193 - Why We Want You To Be Rich - Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki.pdf

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

How DID MILITARY SCHOOL

HELP DEFINE YOUR LIFE?

Robert's Response

There are three reasons I went to a military school.
When I was 10 years old, my fifth-grade teacher had us study the history
of the great explorers - Columbus, Cortez, Magellan and Da Gama.
Readingthose books inspired me to want to go to sea and explore the world.
When I was 13, while other kids were carving salad bowls for their
moms, I talked my shop teacher into letting me build a boat for my wood
shop project. I sent away for the plans and for the next few months, I was
happily building an 8-foot EI Toro class sailboat. That class was one of the
fewclassesI got an A in.
Some ofthe happiest days ofmy life were spent sailing my boat on Hilo
Bay, named after the town I grew up in. As I sat in my boat, my mind would
drift as I dreamed offaraway ports and exotic women.
When my high school guidance counselor asked me, "What do you
want to do when you grow up?" I replied, "I want to go to sea,travel to exotic
placessuch as Tahiti, drink beer and chase women."
Instead of getting upset with me, she said, "I have just the school for
you."She then took out a brochure for the U.S.Merchant Marine Academy
and said, "Look this over. It's a tough school. But ifyou really want to go to
sea,then I'll help you get into the academy."
After winning a congressional appointment from U.S.Senator Daniel K.
Inouye in 1965, I left the sleepylittle town ofHilo and traveled to New York
to begin my education to become a merchant marine officer.In 1968, aspart
L~............... "",-- Two MEN. ONE MESSAct