Collin Gosselin's Rocky Road: From Reality TV Stardom to Marine Dream Deferred
Collin Gosselin, a familiar face from the popular reality TV show "Jon & Kate Plus 8," has recently opened up about how his early experiences might have derailed his dream of becoming a Marine. Now 20 years old and gearing up to start college in the fall, Collin has been living with his dad, Jon Gosselin. In a revealing interview with Entertainment Tonight, Collin shed light on a significant obstacle he faced during his Marine Corps training.
A Dream Interrupted
Collin’s aspiration of joining the U.S. Marine Corps hit a major snag this past year. Despite being close to graduating from boot camp, Collin was discharged after the Marine Corps discovered his past institutionalization. “I was towards the end of training, very close to graduating,” Collin explained to Entertainment Tonight’s Rachel Smith. “But when they reviewed my paperwork, they found out about my time in a behavioral institution.”
This twist in Collin's journey to becoming a Marine has been a challenging blow for him, especially given his long-standing dream of serving in the military.
A Troubling Past
Collin’s experience at a behavioral institute dates back to when he was around 11 or 12 years old. This part of his past has been a source of contention, particularly between him and his mother, Kate Gosselin. During his time in the institution, Collin was reportedly unaware of what was happening or why he was there. “I didn’t know what was going on, where I was going,” he recounted. “That was the most scared I’ve probably ever been in my life.”
Collin's account of a brief visit from his mother reveals a strained relationship. According to him, Kate’s visit was not comforting. Instead, it was filled with lectures and accusations. “(Kate Gosselin) came to visit me once; it was for about 30 minutes, and the entire time all she did was lecture me and tell me I destroyed our family,” Collin said.
Kate’s Perspective
In a 2016 interview with People magazine, Kate Gosselin described Collin’s time at the behavioral institute differently. She portrayed it as a necessary step for Collin’s development. “Collin has special needs,” she said, emphasizing the need for him to learn strategies to handle his challenges. According to Kate, the family had been struggling with Collin’s needs for a long time, and she felt isolated in dealing with it. This sentiment was echoed in a July 2023 Instagram statement, where she reiterated the impact of Collin’s needs on the entire family.
Jon Gosselin’s Criticisms
The relationship between Jon and Kate Gosselin has been rocky since their divorce in 2009. Jon has been vocal about his disagreements with Kate’s decisions concerning Collin. During a 2019 appearance on "The Dr. Oz Show," Jon criticized Kate for institutionalizing Collin without a proper diagnosis. “Kate institutionalized him without a diagnosis and then created a diagnosis,” Jon claimed. “He did not need to be in an institution. Just because he was a difficult child did not mean he needed to be sent away against my will, against my rights. It took me two and a half years to find him. It took me another year to get him out.”
Jon’s statements reflect a deep-seated frustration and a sense of injustice over how Collin’s situation was handled.
Family Dynamics
The Gosselin family has always been under public scrutiny, and Collin’s relationships with his siblings remain a mixed bag. Collin, along with his sextuplet siblings—Hannah, Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel—turned 20 in May. However, his relationship with most of them is strained. He maintains a close bond with his sister Hannah but is otherwise estranged from the rest. “I love my siblings very, very much. I would never hurt them. I would never trash their names in the media,” Collin shared. “But what I do believe is that my mother is behind things that they say in the media. She's behind their opinion of me. I think if we knew each other today, we'd be good friends.”
Moving Forward
As Collin prepares to embark on his college journey, he carries with him the weight of these past experiences. The road hasn’t been easy, but his resilience and determination shine through. Whether or not he’ll revisit his dream of joining the Marine Corps remains uncertain, but Collin’s story is a testament to his strength and the complexities of navigating personal challenges under the public eye.
In summary, Collin Gosselin’s life has been marked by significant trials, from his early days on reality TV to his recent struggles with institutionalization and family dynamics. His story continues to unfold, offering a glimpse into the impact of past experiences on his present and future aspirations.
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