<p>OK.Another year down! And if you could step into the Star Trek Transporter, and beam yourself back to just before Indoc and give yourself some advice....</p>
<h2>What would it be? </h2>
<h1>Also parents, feel free to chime in here with your experiences as well.</h1>
<p>This all started with Sr Hi Awards Ceremony... Older brother being recognized for some thing, and Little Brother musing .... "Maybe I'll do this too, but I'm not sure which Academy I'll go to".</p>
<p>Big Brother wheeled around and looked him square in the eyes and said --- Then you need to really focus and apply yourself.. Every day. And it starts Day1 Freshman year. You need to take it seriously."</p>
<p>So I was amazed. There was Older Brother... channeling DAD. ! ? !
Of course, make time to have fun too.</p>
<p>As a father, Plebe year was the most difficult year of my life. It was so difficult for us to leave our son at the academy and not be able to give him direct support and help. We wrote letters, sent packages and finally phone calls, all the time missing our son in a way we could never anticipate. Reading his letters and hearing his monitone voice with no emotion was so hard that we felt the pain every day. As time went on, his voice and words got stronger and more filled with purpose and poise. Seeing him during parents weekend, we started to see a new young man gaining strength and pride with every day. Passing the days weeks and months was painfuly slow, yet we knew he was gaining great personal strength every day. After the trimester, he made honors and was showing all of his friends and familly and most importantly himself what he was made of and what he was capable of accomplishing. After an entire year, I can't wait for my son to return home as a 3rd class midshipman at the USMMA, stronger and more ready to take on the challengers that lay ahead. This year has been a gut check for us and yet we know that our son has become a man that with great strength and direction that will oneday become a great leader. KP2010Dad</p>
<p>I'd say close your eyes and think of a shape. Channel all your goals into one shape. If that shape isn't the Academy Shield then your wrong. Accept that you are wrong. There is no right here, because even when you are right your wrong (implied wink). Get it? Maybe not yet, but after a few failed tests and long nights of watch here you'll understand. The only thing you need to focus on plebe year is making it through plebe YEAR. There is no substitute for hard work. REALLY! I've seen too many of my former classmates fail out because they have their computers on for too many hours, with their lifeless souls plugged into the bright lights the monitor makes. If you want to make it through here shut the PC down and go to a quiet place. Study harder than you ever dreamed. </p>
<p>Other than that, Never EVER, give up your morals because your classmates are pushing you to, never talk about how you are a high school hero (not cool and most of the people I remember talking about that stuff aren't here anymore), never sell out your classmates no matter what your going through. ALWAYS remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Due to cutbacks in the budget department that the light gets turned off from time to time.</p>