This story, is definitely a personal one, as after much thought and consideration, I, a COVID survivor, officially joined the Vacci-NATION. I wanted to document my experience from start to finish and share my "why" and reason for getting the vaccine.

Here is a firsthand look at my journey to becoming vaccinated.

Over within seconds, but makes a world of difference-- the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, I officially joined the vacci-nation, as I made my way to the University of Guam vaccine clinic and was administered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

The UOG vaccine site is one of the multiple clinics set up on island offering free vaccinations to the community. Recently, the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee or VAPPC announced opening the opportunity to all residents who are 16 years and older in order to reach Governor Lou Leon Guerrero's plan of "path to half", having half the population vaccinated by May 1st, which is the target date for re-opening the island.

Meaning that I, at 27 years old can avail of this opportunity. Guam is one of the first in the country to meet this milestone, which would not be possible without all the helping hands. The UOG clinic is manned by national guardsmen and women.

Guam national guard public affairs officer Mark Scott joined me along the way to getting vaccinated. "One of the things that has helped tremendously with this operation and this whole process is being able to scan and plan you see that QR code right now on your screen. With that code you can book your appointments online this allows you to make your appointment then eventually you come out here to the university of guam parking lot where you then wait in your car, you have a ticket, and once your ticket is called then you come to where I am at right here, and that is standing outside the clinic doors," he said.

"Thanks for mentioning that appointment process, it really is the thing that spaces everything out so there isn't a huge crowd all at once."

The UOG site operates from noon to 5:30pm; they are fully booked for appointments for this week, although they do allow walk-ins for up to 15 people every hour.

According to Scott, they anticipate the clinic being opened next week with available slot times and dates to be announced in tomorrow's JIC release.

Scott took me on a step-by-step process of each stage to getting the vaccine starting at the pre-screening area.

He explained, "This is the prescreening area where they will confirm your appointment and get everyone lined up and go ready to the screening table, which will check more of your identification and do some consent forms and more information about the shot itself."

From here, after a short five minute wait I was called to the screening table. At this stage, I filled out paperwork and signed off on a consent form.

Scott said, "Next you are lining up to go get your shot - you were just screened by an americorp volunteer and a public health volunteer which is important to say because this would happen without our volunteers from UOG, Public Health, Americorps, there's doctors and nurses here that come on their days off just to help out so much thanks to all of them."

Scotts says on average there are over 50 volunteers daily, in addition to the guardsmen and women that have been activated for this mission.

The latest JIC reports that 31,171 individuals have been fully immunize... and I'm one step closer to adding a number to that total.

"From here you will proceed to a table for your vaccine 6:21 okay, we can have you at table number 1, alright you got it. I like number one, I don't know if it has something to do with the waving but im here. Please have a seat, thank you. My name is Jordan and I will be the one administering the vaccine for you today, okay."

National Guardsmen Jordan Suzuki, who is a combat medic created my vaccination card, marking my second dose to be scheduled for three weeks later on April 16th.

Then it was time for the shot. I was always told growing up when I got shots just to not look and to count to three then blow out. So I'm going to do that.

"On the count of three - 1, 2, 3! You're done," Jordan said.

No pain, and in no time I received the first dose of the vaccine. Following the shot, I was escorted to the observation area.

"So next you will be registering with the out process here to keep a tally of take another look at your final paper work and then you will be in the observation area for the next 15 minutes to make sure you don't have any negative side effects, you fee alright and then you can go," said Scott.

After 15 minutes I did not experience any immediate adverse reactions, but continued to monitor myself over the weekend. The arm I received the shot in was extremely sore for a couple days, I felt slightly more tired and had a minor headache, otherwise as of today I feel completely fine.

In reflection, I still stand behind my reasons for getting the vaccine and want to share that reason with all of you. At first I was skeptical to get the vaccine, I was hesitant because we don't know some of the long term side effects, and we hear all these different conspiracy theories...but at the end of the day I really sat down, did my research and as I was contemplating I really thought about what exactly it is that I am fearful about and I realized what I am most fearful of is possibly spreading COVID and possibly causing harm to others, and that outweighs everything.

When I contracted COVID back in august that is what weighed most on my heart and mind, and that's why I did everything in power to prevent this from happening, by following public health's protocols. And now I am doing the same thing, being mindful my decisions, choices and actions don't only affect me but the entire nation.