On most days, 13-year-old Seamus Holmgren thinks less about the places he has lived in the past and more about what’s in front of him: friends at school, speech practice, or the next game of Dungeons & Dragons. But in the background of his normal routine is a life shaped by the military: a life defined by movement, adjustment, and adaptability.
Seamus is a seventh grader at Memorial Middle School on Minot Air Force Base, but his story began far beyond North Dakota. Before settling here, he lived in Iowa, Minnesota, and Italy. And at the center of each move is a family connected to the U.S. Air Force, a connection that has shaped where he has lived and how he sees the world.
Seamus does not remember Italy clearly, since he was still very young, but it still stands out as his favorite place. “I was told there were lots of reptiles there, and I really like snakes and lizards and stuff,” he explained. Even with limited memories, Italy has left a lasting impression that still stands out when he thinks about where he has lived.
When it comes to school life, Seamus described his favorite subject as “lunch,” though he also enjoys physical education and life science. Outside of the classroom, Seamus is involved in speech, band, and cross country. He also enjoys video games, building things outdoors, and working with his hands.
One of his long-term goals is to become a mechanic or work in vehicle maintenance, especially in a military setting. Looking ahead, he said, “I want to be able to join the military and let people know what happens in the military and how we handle it, so if they get in a certain situation, even if it’s not specific like the military, they can still be like us and adapt.”
Adaptability is something that Seamus returns to often when describing military life. He identifies it as the biggest strength military children develop. “They’re able to live in new places, and they’re able to pack, adjust, and talk to other people,” he said.
He also shared advice for other military children facing frequent moves: “You can set your roots, but don’t set them too deep, otherwise it’s going to hurt when you move.” He compared it to a tree that can still shift if it has not rooted too deeply yet, an analogy that reflects both the challenge and resilience of military life.
As an avid Dungeons & Dragons player, Seamus sees it as more than a game. He sees it as a way to meet and connect with others. “People are playing it more and more. And soon, it might be one of the best ways to socialize, maybe exceeding social media.”
Still, some lessons Seamus has learned go deeper than friendship or hobbies. “For example, I always like reptiles, and no matter how many times I miss the reptiles, no matter how many times the people I nerded out over reptiles move, I still like reptiles,” he describes. “A part of you will never change, and that part of you might be one of the most important parts for you.”
For Seamus, being a military child carries meaning beyond simply moving. “I know my parents are protecting the country,” he explains, “and that I get to be the joy of the people doing it.” His mother, Tena Holgren, is a Family Childcare Provider on base. Seamus’s father, Jesse Holmgren, is in the 742nd Missile Squadron. And as part of Month of the Military Child, he emphasized the importance of recognition and respect for military families. Even when children aren’t directly serving, they still deserve respect for being able to live in the military and be a part of the mission.
Seamus is preparing to move again this year. When he learned of the upcoming change, he said he felt “a bit confused,” recalling a childhood memory of looking out of an airplane window and waving goodbye to Italy. Despite this, he sees the move as another opportunity. “There are a bunch of cool places that I have a pretty high likelihood of moving to, like Alaska and Florida,” he said. “But for our family, it’s going to be really hard because we’ve been here for seven years.”
Through every move, Seamus keeps what matters most close: his family, his pets, and his friends. And in his own words, he carries a lesson that defines much of his life so far: how to grow without losing yourself along the way.
