<p>I'm currently a Plebe, almost a youngster, and throughout the year I've been making a list of things I wish I would have known going into plebe summer. I thought I should share it with you guys. </p>
<p>This list is a list of unspoken rules and suggestions that you should really take to heart. They WILL save you a lot of trouble over plebe summer.</p>
<p>PLEBE SUMMER
1) Try and make friends over the summer. I know it's hard with your time restricted, but when the academic year rolls around... you're going to want to have at least 2 people you can room with. Getting stuck with someone you don't like sucks... trust me, it happens to lots of people.</p>
<p>2) Bring a Calculator. Even if you don't think you have a chance in hell of validating anything. Bring it anyway. I didn't think I could validate anything and once the test came, I'm pretty sure I could have... if I only had a calculator... Also, brush up on whatever language you took in high school and you should be able to validate at LEAST 1 semester of a language.</p>
<p>2.1) If you DO validate something... ACCEPT the VALIDATION!!! If you can validate a semester of chemistry, don't deny the validation because you think you'll be better off for whatever reason. Chemistry is hell! Get out of as much as possible... Accept the validation!</p>
<p>3) Over plebe summer, never EVER write anything in your thought of the day other than a joke or something else equally funny. If you write something serious, the cadre will use it as ammo against you for the next day.</p>
<p>3.1) Never write letters to girlfriends at home on the post cards they give you. Write it and conceal what you wrote in an envelope so they can't see it. If you don't, the cadre will read your post cards aloud at night and laugh about how much of a sap you are to your face the next day. Some kid signed his postcard "Love, Your ScoobyDoo." Needless to say, we all had a good laugh at his expense.</p>
<p>4) Don't over think things. If they tell you to do something. Just do it.</p>
<p>5) NO Excuses... EVER! If you don't know a rate, or they ask you something else you don't know, just say you'll find out and report back. Don't say anything beyond that! Ever! Don't ever make an excuse or your summer will suck. I promise. It's MUCH better to be hated for being inept than it is to be hated for making excuses. </p>
<p>6) Try and come back from sports period as early as possible. You'll get a nice hour to yourself. If you're a guy, play lacrosse, or try to. The sport kicks ass and the people are cool.</p>
<p>7) If at all possible, try to learn as many rates over the summer, BEFORE you go to plebe summer. Honest to God, if you know your rates, and don't make excuses, your summer will be a breeze. If you need help on what to study start with: 12 General Orders of a Sentry, USNA Mission, Man in the Arena (by Teddy Roosevelt), Sailors Creed, Code of Conduct. You need to be able to recite it at the top of your lungs. Lock yourself in your basement bathroom and scream what you're memorizing.</p>
<p>8) Come as early as posisble on I-Day. You need to be FIRST in line. If you're not, the waiting isn't what's bad, it's the fact that the people first in line, have ALL day to get their room in order. I had 10 minutes to get everything folded and away properly. The earlier you're there, the more time you have to get settled, and you WANT to be settled!</p>
<p>9) You'll get 8 hours of sleep each night, if possible, wake up a little early to try and learn your rates for the day. It will be worth the 30 mins of sleep you lost, I promise! If you don't, you'll lose 30 minutes of sleep at night doing writing assignments in your rack!</p>
<p>10) No matter WHAT they tell you, AC year IS 1000x better than plebe summer. Do not let them fool you by telling you "We will outnumber you 3-1 once Ac year starts" Yes that's true, but nobody will flame on you. The firsties pretty much leave you alone. The 2/c only maybe 5 people in that entire class will flame on you and you get to call Youngsters by their first names (most of the time)</p>
<p>I'm sure I'll think of more and probably try to add to the list. </p>
<p>BTW, if you get 13th Co. you are going to have fun. It's probably the best company out there. If anybody is wondering how it's going to be for AC year, if you get G-13, You'll be in Golf Company for the summer and 13th Co for the AC year. If you Get G-14, You'll be in 14th for the Ac year. They combine 2 companies of plebes into one over the summer. So A-1 and A-2 will both be Alpha, but during the Ac year you'll be split into 1st and 2nd company.</p>
<p>If anybody else has any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me, my e-mail is phil<em><a href="mailto:salesses@mac.com">salesses@mac.com</a> WITHOUT the "</em>". I just put the _ in there so I won't get spam.</p>
<p>Other than that, I hope this helped.</p>
<p>Phil</p>