<p>I realize there are probably no Alumni less than 30-years old on these threads, but I thought, if there are, they could answer this question with some idea that their experience continues to be relevant.<br>
If Parents will ask their mid, not just guess what you think he/she will say, but actually ask a current mid and post a reply, such info would be welcome.
If you are over 30-years old and can evaluate your answer in light of CURRENT circumstances, then there is even room for your answer. </p>
<p>WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ACADEMY THAT TURNED OUT TO BE ABSOLUTELY TRUE! The ONE piece of advice that incoming mids should absolutely follow.</p>
<p>WHAT IS THE WORST ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN THAT TURNED OUT TO BE ABSOLUTELY FALSE? The ONE piece of advice that turned out to be absolute BS.</p>
<p>I know the answer to the first question because I have heard my husband answer this question over the past 30+ years more times than I can count and he told his own daughter this...</p>
<p>The BEST piece of advice is: FIND AN ACTIVITY THAT TAKES YOU OFF THE YARD, be it a sport or choir or glee club or pipes&drums or drum&dugle....but something. You will go crazy if you linger on the Academy grounds without times to detox especially during Plebe Year. My hubby SWEARS that is was his Protestant Choir trips throughout his Plebe year, and his sailing with YP's the remainder of his years that gave him the mental breathing space he needed to survive.</p>
<p>Definitely agree with that. Going to pistol matches to places like Charleston and Boston were definitely awesome experiences, as well as getting far from the Yard...and plebes were indirectly ordered to bring civvies by the coach and upperclass.</p>
<p>As far as the second question goes...you deal with a lot of BS at the Academy. You just have to sift through it, find the good stuff, and forget about the stuff behind you.</p>
<p>You mean graduates older than 30 still might have something valuable to contribute? The HELL you say! :eek:</p>
<p>Well, in that case, I'll take a stab:</p>
<p>The WORST advice I got was about 85% of the USNA Catalog. Sure, lots of pretty pictures and lofty words, but they conveniently left out the raft of BS you have to wade through to enjoy them. We used to joke that if they ever passed real Truth-In-Advertising laws, USNA would be out of business.</p>
<p>The BEST advice is not to think you are going through it alone. You have 1,000+ classmates going through it, too, and a family back home suffering from a distance. Rely on both. Also, around 1,000 people graduate from USNA every year. If THEY can do it, YOU can do it.</p>
<p>BEST ADVICE: Carry as little as possible on I-Day.</p>
<p>WORST ADVICE: View it as just a game -- clarification -- you can VIEW it as a game (plebe summer) but NEVER TELL ANYONE THAT!! Someone in my company did that and we paid for it big time...the cadre were irate.</p>
<p>ADVICE! -- not what you were told that wasn't true (which would be a lie) but, rather, what you were told to do that turned out to be useful or useless. So, in an effort to help those getting ready to go in . . . </p>
<p>Best advice. Take one day at a time. This is the absolute truth! If you try to look too far ahead; if you try to anticipate; if you try to stay ahead of the game, so to speak, you will set yourself up for frustration. I've heard of 2011s setting up facebook pages, etc. in an effort to get to know each other. Forget it! You simply cannot anticipate what you are getting ready to experience. There is no value to "getting to know each other." About two hours after you arrive, you won't know which way is up, which way is down, and, even if you recognize somebody, you won't want to talk to them.
The less you worry about what will happen tomorrow or in the next hour and the more you focus on what you are supposed to be doing right now, the better off you will be.</p>
<p>Worst Advice. This is harder. I wasn't really told anything that was horrible. Rather, I think, there is simply too much drama about the whole plebe summer th ing. This is related to the "if you want it, you can get through" train of thought. This is true. It's that simple. Much of what you are told about plebe summer seems designed to build up your anxiety. So, one of the questions I noticed earlier was along the lines of "what can you do all day?" That's the point, its not all running, exercising, fighting, sports, etc. So . . . just decide you will complete whatever the assignment of the moment is [see above] and you will be fine.</p>
<p>Don't get all anxious about things. Don't try to anticipate. Consider that probably MOST plebes don't know a thing about CC and get along just fine! MOST plebes don't know what to expect, don't know a soul upon arrival, don't know where to go [I sure didn't know what Reef Points was] or a single thing about what is going to happen. MOST plebes do just fine.</p>
<p>Best - If you're slightly unsure about a service academy, do not come to "try it out" or "see if you like it" just to quit.
Worst - "Anyone can make it through." It's just a lie.</p>
<p>From my newly minted four-striper firstie who is lounging on the couch:</p>
<p>Best Advice: "BE CONSIDERATE AND KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR!" Take care of your roomies. Anticipate needs and if your roomie will be back late from a briefing and has watch, set out his uniform. If your roomie will miss meal, make sure there is something there for them to eat when they get back. Take care of each other and don't forget to have a good time.</p>
<p>Worst Advice: When witnessing a really bad example of leadership "Just don't be like that when you are an officer." When you see really bad leadership, do all that you can to make it right and be certain that you are setting a good example for others.</p>