Former "Lizzie McGuire" actress Carly Schroeder has left the glitzy world of Hollywood fame to join the Army.
Schroeder's been in the Hollywood scene since a young age. At 11, she joined the Disney Channel, starring in "Lizzie McGuire" as Melina Bianco. Since she was so young, Hilary Duff and Lalaine acted as her "big sisters" on set.
"[They] gave me candy when no one was looking and tolerated my abundance of energy," Schroeder wrote in a touching Instagram post. "For years, I rocked hand-me-downs from Hilary [Duff] and couldn't have been more stoked she made me look fashionable. During a difficult time in my life I had these two gorgeous, intelligent, talented big sisters looking out for me."
She said the decision to enlist in the army wasn't made lightly. Factors behind her decision to enlist included giving aid to veterans and advocating for human trafficking victims. Schroeder said that for her, the best way to do both was to enlist in the Army.
She's already begun training and is interested in working in military intelligence after she finishes Officer Candidate School (OCS), she said.
Schroeder originally announced her move to join the Army in a February Instagram post.
"For 22 years, I’ve played dress up for a living. As an actress I’ve been kidnapped, gone blind, nearly eaten by lions and murdered on more than one occasion," she wrote. "I tormented Lizzie McGuire’s little brother on the Disney Channel, was a dolphin trainer, the first female soccer player on an all boys team and Harrison Ford once rescued me during an intense home invasion."
She added, "That's exciting and all, but in January I decided to raise my right hand and swear into the United States Army. With a college degree from @callutheran in Criminal Justice, an ASVAB score of 92, and qualifying PFTs... I was accepted into Army #OCS (Officer Candidate School)."
She explained that there were three big reasons for her decision to join the Army.
The first reason she said started back in college.
"College opened my eyes to global injustices. But on a more tangible micro level, there is human trafficking occurring within the United States. I’ve written papers, spread awareness and as an Army Officer I intend to learn skills I can later apply when I’m on a team helping these victims."
For the second reason, she said serving would enable her to "better serve and advocate for veterans."
"Serving my country will give my voice more validity. I can better serve and advocate for veterans once I am a part of their community," she said. "The military is a family and family always has each others back."
And as for the third reason, she mentioned that with her father having been a Green Beret and her brother in the Marines, "There is no way I am going to let the boys have all the fun."
She concluded with a personal message of thanks: "Thank you to my big brothers who teach, encourage and support me. I’ll make you proud."