One of the first downers you'll run into...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>I just spoke to a kid who is a plebe, and he mentioned something that hasn't been mentioned before that I know of. Thought I'd share. Current Mids and Alumni will know what I'm talking about right off the bat.</p>

<p>Everyone has seen the catalogs. Everyone has seen the documentaries. Everyone has seen the movies (the GOOD ones). You visit the Yard and get a brief glimpse of the place. You talk to counselors and others who know the reputation of the place, but probably haven't been there.</p>

<p>What you end up with is a mental picture of what USNA is, and the caliber of person that attends. The men are all 6 feet tall, hyper-trim, and geniuses. The women are all ravens with brains and killer instincts. No one doubts why they are there. The uniforms are perfect, the rooms are spotless, the grades are wonderful, the linen is clean, etc., etc., etc....</p>

<p>And then........... you get there for real.</p>

<p>Turns out that there are overweight Mids, and Mids on academic probation. Mids who you wonder how they managed to scrape enough social grace together to get passed the Congresscritter's secretary. You have some upperclass dweeb with a neck no bigger than a pencil and with a crooked gigline howling at you for having lint on your shirt. In other words, the gleaming preconception dies a rather horrid, bloody death.</p>

<p>It is one of the first letdowns you'll experience: Mids aren't supermen. They're just regular folks, albeit better than the average Joe you'd run into in the street. Some folks will realize this and feel a bit betrayed, and wonder if they really want to still be there. It's natural.</p>

<p>Not much advice that can be offered to counter it other than to be ready for it. No matter what the literature says, you will find both diamonds and turds at USNA, so just be ready for it, and don't let the realization trip you up. All you have to do is commit to being one of the model Mids instead of one of the less-than-model ones.</p>

<p>Wish I'd warned 2010 about this sooner, but I'm sure most have figured it out by now.</p>

<p>Now it's up for 2011. :)</p>

2

<p>great point Z...
Most young people in general are idealistic...and USNA probably draws a large number of really idealistic young people, especially patriotic young people...and your comments are good reminders that we are all imperfect humans, and there could be an argument made like this: "all humans are imperfect..some are more imperfect than others!" :-)</p>

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<p>Well reminding candidates on the eve of the arrival of the best class the Naval Academy will ever see is great. You couldn't have picked a better time!</p>

<p>~Future '11</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Well reminding candidates on the eve of the arrival of the best class the Naval Academy will ever see is great.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, that would be 1991, of course. ;) :D</p>

<p>Oh, and if anyone has any issues with anything I post, kindly send me a PM instead of running off to whine to the moderators. Be an adult instead of a coward, for heaven's sake. </p>

<p>They probably think the "offending" word is a "right", too. :rolleyes:</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
"all humans are imperfect..some are more imperfect than others!"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Perhaps, but it's more than just being disappointed that the place isn't perfect. It's what HAPPENS to make you realize it. For example, there is nothing more shocking than to be stuck near a classmate who gets off frying their own classmates, either because they think they're superior or because they think it will get them in good with the upperclassmen. That kind of betrayal hits home HARD.</p>

<p>When you have another Mid practicing blatant hypocrisy (yelling at a Plebe for uniform when theirs looks like a pile of poop), it hits home HARD.</p>

<p>You just have to remember that no filter is perfect, and some bottom-feeders will always get through. Just don't let them put you off.</p>

6

<p>Zaphod:

[quote]
For example, there is nothing more shocking than to be stuck near a classmate who gets off frying their own classmates, either because they think they're superior or because they think it will get them in good with the upperclassmen.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I never saw that when I was at the academy. I'd say it's time for a blanket party. :eek: </p>

<p>We were taught to NEVER bilge a classmate. Smacks weren't appreciated.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
We were taught to NEVER bilge a classmate. Smacks weren't appreciated.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Funny thing. I was coming back to my office thinking about this thread and I remembered the term "smack". It'd been so long since I'd heard it that I'd forgotten it. It just popped back up. Great minds, and all that. ;)</p>

<p>There are two things you NEVER want to be called as a Plebe (or as a Mid, for that matter): "bilgepump" and "smack". You ESPECIALLY don't want to be called either by your classmates. It is BEYOND BAD if you are.</p>

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<p>My Godson's father was a Company Officer at USNA in the late '90's. He's now the skipper of a fast boat out of Pearl. </p>

<p>One of the things he said that has always stuck with me is, "These are all great kids.....but you have to remember, they are still just kids. And no matter how grown up they seem, they still have a lot of growing up to do."</p>

<p>It seemed to be a pretty wise perspective.</p>

9

<p>Agreed. When I go back to the Academy now, I find myself wondering, "Jeez. Were we THAT young when we started?" :eek:</p>

<p>Hell of a commitment to make at that age.</p>

10

<p>I think Admiral Charles R. Larson described leadership the best.</p>

<p>From USNA.org:</p>

<p>*<em>Uphold the standards of the Naval Academy.
*</em>Be a person of integrity.
*<em>Lead by example -
(Meet the standard you are holding others to).
*</em>Strive for excellence without arrogance.
*<em>Do your best.
*</em>Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
*<em>Tolerate honest mistakes from people that are doing their best.
*</em>Seek the truth -
(Rumors and unverified anecdotes undermine morale).
*<em>Speak well of others -
(Gossip undermines human dignity).
*</em>Keep a sense of humor and be able to laugh at yourself.</p>

<p>OUR GOAL: MAKE THE CHAIN OF COMMAND WORK BY
ENHANCING MUTUAL TRUST, RESPECT AND GOOD
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS.</p>

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<p>Zaphod...you should consider posting that on all the Academy sites! I am a cadet at USCGA, and I hit that downer pretty hard. It took me a while to realize that we all have a long way to go, and that when you look at the firsties, most (but not all) have their acts together. At all schools there will be those who are thriving...and those who aren't, and military academies are no exceptions. That is excellent advice for the class of 2011 going into any Academy, just be ready for it.</p>