Every student he has taught knows that he lives a military life.

“I’m an open book,” Mr. Massey said. “Students know I served in the Marine Corp active duty.”

Mr. Massey remembers waking up one day and deciding that this was something he wanted to do with his life.

“It’s the best thing I have ever done,” Mr. Massey said. “I just woke up one morning and decided that somethings gotta give.”

Going into the Marine Corp was a good thing for Mr. Massey’s life.

“I needed a kick in the butt, so joining the Marine was a good thing for me,” Mr. Massey said. “If you didn’t know, I needed the discipline.”

The Marine Corp did not only give him discipline but maturity.

“I did a lot of growing up,” Mr. Massey said.

Only three members of his family, including him, have gone into the military.

“My father was drafted into the National Army, and my uncle was drafted into active army,” Mr. Massey said. “I was the first person in my family to volunteer.”

Before going into the military, Mr. Massey had to be convinced that this was something he truly wanted to do.

“I talked to two different branches. The first recruiter I talked to was in the army and he didn’t convince me at all, but the second recruiter, a marine, did.”

Convinced by the second recruiter, Mr. Massey immediately started the process to be in the Marine Corp.

“I was on a ship in less than three months,” Mr. Massey said.

He served in the Marine from ‘85 to ‘89. After he leaving the Marines, Mr. Massey learned that the person who replaced him stepped on a land mine.

After serving for four years, Mr. Massey decided to look for a job.

“I looked in the fire department after my service, but I didn’t want to do it,” Mr. Massey said. “Less than a year from service I went back to school. I didn’t want to go to class, but I did want to teach.”

Besides teaching high school and college classes, Mr. Massey knows how to plot out nuclear strikes.

“I would have to determine wind speed and the size of the weapon,” Mr. Massey said.

His experience in the Marines was more than what he thought it would be, and it changed his life expectations.

“My experience in combat, I don’t know it was more cynical. It made me more realistic about life expectations,” Mr. Massey said.

His experience in the Marines may have been cynical but he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I am where I am and I like where things are right now,” Mr. Massey said. “My youngest child is in high school and I have a grandbaby on the way.”

Although something Mr. Massey could live without would be people’s bad choices.

“Stupid stuff, like people acting like idiots,” Mr. Massey said. “I have a low tolerance for that, but part of that has gotten less and less over the years.”

“Don’t be afraid to to ask for help,” Mr. Massey said. “If you need help, ask for it. Someone will step up and help you. You’ll be amazed by it.”

Mr. Massey would recommend students to join the military in a heart beat.

“It’s not for everybody,” Mr. Massey said.