Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrina Russell.
Hi Terrina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was 17 years old when a friend asked me for a ride to the recruiting station. Once I was there, the recruiter started talking to me about joining the Navy. It was never anything that I intended on doing, but in that moment, it just felt like if I didn’t go, I wouldn’t grow. So I had to have my parents, my mother who was a belly dancer, and my father, who was a nudist, and who were very much a product of the 70s, sign me into the military, which absolutely terrified them. I spent 13 years on active duty, before transitioning into the reserves and finishing out my career with 24 years. I was a mass communication specialist at the end of my career, but I started off as a journalist and at some point that job merged with other media ratings and we all became mass communication specialists. I achieved the rank of Senior Chief. During my time, I also became a master instructor, I earned a masters degree in human relations, I earned a bachelors in communications, I’m currently working on another masters in marketing, and my motto is never stop learning. I have enjoyed serving the military community so much that I’ve turned it into a platform, which I share my stories, my journey, and my advice for those who are in the military, or who are planning to join the military or who are trying to transition out of the military. I feel like I came a long way from that 17-year-old girl who was running from a lot of things, most notably herself. I realized that all this time I thought I was running from that girl when really I was running to who she really was and who she was really meant to be. I feel like I have finally found that person.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Joining the military with no idea of what I was doing was terrifying. I was a people pleaser. I was always wanting people to like me, and that is not very conducive with military service. When I went to school to become a journalist, I got into some trouble I ended up being placed on restriction for 45 days. I had 45 days of extra duty. I lost some rank and I had to pay some money. But they let me stay in school, which was the most important thing. In fact, I talk a lot about how you shouldn’t let one bad thing negate all of the positive things that people do throughout their careers. It is sometimes hard to see past the one bad thing, but people are more than just their worst day and we are not a zero defect, Navy or civilization. There were of course, other challenges throughout my career being a woman in a male dominated organization is also hard, but ultimately, I navigated it as well as I could, and try to do as much good along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Even though I retired after 24 years, I retired during Covid so I didn’t have a retirement ceremony or anything like that. I just kind of walked away from service. And that was very difficult. I didn’t feel like I was done. I felt like I had more left to give. And that is when I decided to start my social media platforms and start serving my community in this way. I get a lot of pushback sometimes people telling me that I shouldn’t make the military my whole identity or I should move on now that I’m retired. But the problem is that a lot of people make the military, their whole identity and a lot of people have problems transitioning after service and so who better to walk them through that then somebody who is living it. Also, I feel like the basics don’t really expire. The things that make people good leaders the thing that makes people good sailors the things that make people good people don’t change all that often so my goal is to remind people of the fundamentals and the basics that will help them through military service, no matter what branch
What makes you happy?
My family makes me incredibly happy, I have a daughter she’s 25 years old. She recently graduated from college and she is finding her way in the world. I have a husband who I adore, and who adores me, I have two dogs, and I was never a dog person, but these dogs just seem to be meant for me and my husband. My husband is fully retired and I work because I love it. I love to travel and I love creating content because I love being able to help somebody make a decision or be able to give somebody advice that actually leaves them down a path to more financial and emotional security. That’s why I started MayinMidLife on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. I’m hoping to use my knowledge of military service, reserve service, government service and the transition out of those things into other purposeful callings after the uniform.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayinmidlife?stkn=bWwzYjM5cm4wZ2p1&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: Mayinmidlife
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayinmidlife?_r=1&_t=ZT-99lBDm0ZNOv
