The Early Life Experiences: Foundations of Discipline

As the younger of two brothers, my early years were shaped in Alexandria, Virginia, where my family seemed to live at 30,000 feet. With a mother who was a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines and a father who was a pilot, marketer, and salesman, some of my earliest memories revolved around airplanes. Travel experiences were the family business, instilling in me an appreciation for the vastness of the world and cultural diversity. Additionally, my time spent in military school influenced my personal development, further enriching the lessons learned through our travels.

At age 12, I packed my first footlocker and headed to the hills of Front Royal, VA, to attend Randolph-Macon Military Academy (RMA). During my early years there, I spent the next four years learning how to straighten my gig line, spit-shine my shoes, bounce quarters off my bunk, and march an obscene number of tours. While I could never be accused of enjoying it, the military school influence at RMA provided an invaluable foundation of discipline and accountability, crucial for my personal development. 

Four years would be enough, and I would transfer to a public school, a stark contrast to the structured environment of RMA. The takeaway for me was that diversity in education and travel experiences is a gift. It taught me to appreciate people for who they are above all else.

During my early years, I struggled with conventional learning methods. At the time, I didn't understand the reasons behind my challenges or how to crack the code; I just knew that the beaten paths felt more like dead ends. My experience in military school played a significant role in shaping my approach to learning. It would take years of trial and error, along with valuable travel experiences, before I learned how to harness my strengths and build the systems and tools I use today to optimize both my personal development and professional life. What once were weaknesses are now superpowers.

Request a copy of my resume, which reflects my early years and how military school influence shaped my personal development, by simply emailing me at findchadfoster@gmail.com. My travel experiences have also contributed to my journey.