persevere

I passed my entrance exam to Melbourne High
School.
I was now a teenager studying on the other side of
town.
I joined the high school cadets.
I had a squeaky voice.
I was a late developer.
At cadet camp, an officer would try to jump into my
sleeping bag.
I was horrified.
How could I tell the teacher in charge that the reason I
wanted to leave cadet school was to retain my virginity?
All he could say was persevere.