<p>I have a question for grads and parents, people with a bid of hindsight.</p>
<p>My son and the other boys I know applying to service academies (I don't know any girls) seem to have similar personalities - they are very self assured and confident. Very forceful when they discuss or argue, often loud, too loud. Some would say arrogant or hot headed. While this is not untypical of teenage boys, I would say that this group of boys is more like this than their peers who are applying to civilian colleges.</p>
<p>I know a half a dozen or so service academy grads - who are now middle age men. They all seem confident, but no one would describe them as arrogant or hot headed.</p>
<p>So here is my question - do you think the applicants and grads that I know are typical? If so, what happens in between.</p>
<p>I would not say hot headed. Self Assured and a bit arrogant - most definitely, but add into that equation very caring and self giving individuals. That would best describe my Mids friends - including females.</p>
<p>The biggest change I have seen is in the way they display self assurance and arrogance. At 18 it may seem hot headed and annoying but even after plebe year they carry much more humility and professionalism.</p>
<p>During Plebe Summer and the rest of Plebe year, the upper classes will do their best to beat down arrogance in the Plebes. They learn, among other things, that the word "I" can only be used by human beings, thus "I" is off limits for mere Plebes. That may sound bad, but almost everyone in an incoming class has been one of the best in everything they've done in life. It's a real shock to be treated like manure by the cadre, and it's also a shock to find out that everyone around them in their own class is just as good, if not better, than they are. Those things all help to add a little humility. Making it through Plebe year brings a huge amount of confidence, but it's the quiet confidence that they can deal with whatever is thrown their way.</p>
<p>I think you will find Mids as varied as the rest of society as a whole, abet a bit more on the conservative side. Some arrogant, not all. Some headstrong, not all. Some boastful, not all. Some humble, not all. Some loud- the rest will learn to get there. Some will debate to their dying breath, others will hold their opinions tighter to the vest. Self-assured, confident- definitely those attributes get nurtured, but truth be told, their confidence can be shaken to its core. Mom2012 captures it well- "quite confidence." </p>
<p>I like to think of most kids as lumps of clay- basic ingredients are there, basic shape too, but still malleable by the institutions and people around them. The vast majority emerge better then where they started- most, not all. </p>
<p>In the end, imperfect people, trying their best to be as perfect as they can, in a demanding and most imperfect world.</p>
<p>The ones I know I would describe as more self confident rather than arrogant. Of course, "There is a fine line between self confident and arrogant, and often that depends on the viewer". I see confidence and a necessary part of any leader, lessons in humility will squash arrogance.<br>
Hot headed, I hope not. Passionate debater, I hope so however with the wisdom of being able to see the opposing opinion and the maturity to change their view if they realize they are incorrect.</p>