![Abby is reunited with her father at her volleyball game. “I was filled with joy and [surprised] because I didn’t think it was going to happen anytime soon,” Abby said.](https://whshoofprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/5010282723947566114-540x1200.jpg)
On the day of her volleyball tournament, 15-year-old Abby Cordova feels the nerves start to kick in. Suddenly, she feels the buzz of an incoming text from her phone, checking the screen to see who it is. As she reads the good luck message from her father, who is serving in the Army, a wave of warmth washes over her and the pressure of the competition fades away, replaced by the comforting reminder that her father is cheering her on from a distance. Now, as a junior, she has learned to channel his support into confidence both on and off the court.
While not currently deployed, Abby’s father, Julio Cordova, a staff sergeant, was deployed twice throughout her life to Afghanistan in 2019 and Kuwait in 2022, with each deployment lasting about one year. During those long periods of time, Abby and her family celebrated birthdays, holidays and other personal milestones with her father virtually instead of in-person. Although she understood the importance of her father’s service, the physical distance was still difficult.
“The hardest part of having a military parent is not having that parent there for you when you need them. It’s hard not knowing what they do at work and how hard they work to help their family,” Abby said. “Still, me and my sister know it’s for a good reason, and we get really excited when he does come back.”
Despite the distance, Abby and her family made sure they stayed connected. Calling was sometimes difficult across different time zones, especially when her father’s schedule was unpredictable, but they made the effort to accommodate his schedule and consistently text each other. Even brief conversations helped them feel more involved in each other’s lives and maintain a sense of closeness.
“We keep in contact through voice chats, texting and FaceTime. He would always text us if we had a big event, a game or a competition,” Abby said. “We also keep stuff that he’s given us to remember that he’s still with us even when he’s not here.”
While her father’s service required sacrifice, Abby also credits her mother, Giselle Cordova, for providing stability and support at home when her father was absent. With her father away, her mother took on additional responsibilities to take care of both Abby and her sister Hannah, who is 5 years younger than her. Abby’s mother is also a teacher at Vejar Elementary School, making her ability to balance her responsibilities as both a parent and educator while still being present for her daughters all the more impressive.
“It was hard to see the girls missing their dad and I felt guilty at times because I couldn’t be everywhere or do everything with them,” Mrs. Cordova said. “Some of the times Abby would have to miss out on things of Hannah would have to miss out on things because I couldn’t be in two places.”
Growing up with her father in the military has taught Abby independence, responsibility and resilience. With one parent deployed, she had to step up at an early age to take care of her little sister. The first time their father was deployed, Hannah was only 4 years old, so Abby had to take on a more protective role, taking care of her and stepping up as an older sister. Whether it was helping with small responsibilities at home or being someone her sister could rely on, sibling support helped the sisters navigate challenging times.
“[My sister and I] were both young when our dad’s deployment happened. The first time he was deployed, we were both in elementary school together, so we had each other for support,” Abby said. “We’re both grown up now so we are able to take care of ourselves, but we still support each other.”
Abby’s experiences have shaped her independence and prepared her for life after high school. By facing challenges without her father’s help, she has developed her maturity, problem-solving skills and ability to manage tasks on her own.
“I had to learn to be independent and recognize that I’m not always gonna have my dad there to do things for me, like fixing something for me in my room or moving things around. I really had to learn to do things by myself,” Abby said. “I feel like I can grow up, go to college and not have to still depend on my dad to do things for me.”
When Abby’s dad comes home, her family takes him out for his favorite meals and restaurants that he cannot eat when he’s deployed.
“The second time he was deployed, he came to school, and he surprised me here when I was at practice. My coach was like, ‘Oh, let’s take a photo,’ and then he was in the background,” Abby said.
Even Abby’s varsity stunt teammates have noticed the effort and resilience she brings to the team. Despite balancing her academics, sports and the challenges that came with having a parent deployed, she continues to show up to practice with a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
“During practice, Abby always has a positive attitude and continues to work hard even when she’s tired,” junior Keira Tran said. “I’ve known her forever, and she is one of the strongest people I know, especially when her dad is deployed.”
Through the long distances and sacrifices, Abby has learned to be strong and independent, using her father’s service as a source of motivation in every aspect of her life.
“Having a military dad has made me feel very grateful because of the privileges that I have because of him,” Abby said. “Overall, I just feel grateful for him and everything he’s done.”
