<p>requiem,</p>
<p>That's a great one!!</p>
<p>requiem, that one made me laugh out loud!</p>
<p>We live on the Outer Banks of NC, so everyone is familiar with the Coast Guard, but...when my son says he's gotten an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy, 1/2 of the people say, "Oh why enlist, you're so smart?" and the other 1/2 say, "That's in New York, isn't it?"</p>
<p>Maybe someday people will understand that young folks devoting their lives to serve as leaders in the military services, and foregoing 4 years of "college fun" for 4 years of education and training to lead is a good thing. </p>
<p>Maybe a major paper or magazine owes us an article on the service academies!?!</p>
<p>I think it so very odd, not to say discouraging, that the general population feels that our enlisted men and women are somehow... NOT smart. I guess there are a few of the dimmer bulbs in every organization, but from those folks I have met, they are very good at their jobs, and most juggle a military career, school, spouse & kids, travel, and possible deployment with superb skill and aplomb. That's smart in my book.</p>
<p>Yesterday, I was sitting in my ap economics class and the teacher asked everyone where they were going to college. When I said USMA, the ENTIRE class, including the teacher, started firing questions such as "Why do you want to kill people?" "You guys are killing kids in iraq!" and "But you got into berkeley, why not go there and get a better education?" at me. I was unpleasantly surprised at this reaction to say the least. This i guess is the general southern california opinion of the military, sadly.</p>
<p>Requiem...sorry you got that reaction. They are just ignorant. I say congratualations and good luck to you!!!</p>
<p>I echo WAMom and will add: ask if you can put up a USMA poster in the Guidance office? </p>
<p>There are a lot of military installations in so CA. You would think they'd turn off the tv and see what's going on around them.</p>
<p>Congratulations and good luck at USMA!</p>
<p>We were having my D's graduation party on Friday. The father of one of D's senior friends and I were talking. His D is going to UNC Chapel Hill (1hr. away) and he said this to me:</p>
<p>"I like my odds better than yours." </p>
<p>That is an exact quote. It keeps ringing in my head. Yes, there's a multitude of things I could have said but I just didn't have it in me. I just smiled and assured him that he surely is very fortunate to have his D so close. </p>
<p>My D leaves in 4 weeks. I cry if you even look at me. I have a constant sick feeling in my stomach....but I'm keeping a brave face for her sake. Selfish comments like this have no place in conversations. I know there will be more so I'll learn to take them in stride but I never thought this comment would come from this particular dad. I guess you just never know what people are thinking. I pray that I can handle any future comments with grace. This one threw me off guard and I hate that I can't get it out of my head. </p>
<p>Bless all you service academy parents.</p>
<p>Flymom...what an odd comment from the other parent about liking his odds better than yours. I thought I had heard most of the off the wall comments people make about kids going to the service academies, but that takes the prize. </p>
<p>You should be proud that your daughter was chosen to attend a service academy. What an achievement for you and she both. I have found that most of my son's friends and parents don't understand the whole service academy choice. Some will over time, but most will not. You will find, however, that you won't be walking the road alone as your daughter attends a service academy. To the contrary, you will find support that is unbelievable through the service academies web organizations like Plebe-Net and your local parent's club. Trust me, those folks will know what you and your daughter are going through and will offer you support as your daughter goes through her academy days. </p>
<p>Now back to that comment... If you made every decision in life by looking at the odds, you wouldn't get far. For example, if you don't get out of bed today your odds of getting hit by a car go way down...so do you not get out of bed? Odds also go both ways, what about the odds of getting involved in drugs? Being involved in an accident with someone that has been drinking? I would bet that the odds of those two things happening are much greater at UNC than at a service academy. We all make choices in life and over time those choices define us. I submit that your daughter's choice to attend a service academy is more laudable than her friends to attend UNC. Good luck to you and your daughter and congratulations on her accomplishment.</p>
<p>FWDAD,</p>
<p>Thank you for your sound analogies and kind words. I honestly didn't want to get out of bed today so that one made me laugh. Thanks, I needed that! :)</p>
<p>Whatever did he mean? I don't get it.<br>
What is it with parents who never want their children to leave home?</p>
<p>Flymom - Please don't cry. don't mourn. Be happy and proud. Be proud of your daughter and the fine job you have done raising her.
You will hear some wonderful things from her over the next 4 years. She will have opportunities that this dad's daughter will not have.
You WILL get your revenge! </p>
<p>I know having kids move out is hard - it changes everything. But after the initial adjustment period the changes are pretty good. Just think - you can go visit her, she can come visit you (maybe).</p>
<p>Strange comment- but it comes with the territory. Like most amateurs at the track- I suspect he doesn't know how to calculate the odds anyway!
While there are always the goofy comments-lot's of folks do recognize what an honor it is to go to a Service academy- even here in "Liberal" Massachusetts . My son's graduation was on Sunday- They announced where each boy was going to school next year from that class- 4 boys are going to Service Academies (2 Navy, 1 Army, 1 CG) plus my son on an Army ride to VMI and one other on Army Ride to Citadel- all of whom got far more applause than the kids off to other places including: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Duke, Penn and Yale (Since we weren't supposed to applaud until all of the graduates had received their diploma- my 8 year old daughter wanted to know why people kept applauding when somebody would be announced as going to a military academy and not the other schools so I know it wasn't just my imagination!)
Be proud and don't sweat the knuckleheads!</p>
<p>flymom,</p>
<p>We all know how you are feeling! I even posted about the tears. Unfortunately, there are people out in the world who are insensitive. </p>
<p>I would look at it differently, and see that many kids who stay so close to home never learn to experience college life b/c of the safety net lose more in personal growth than they will gain in academics...your DD will actually get more and thus, your odds are better!</p>
<p>Flymom- I know how you feel and believe me it is the small minded person who misses out the most. I had one D leave last year for USAFA and another going this year. It has amazed me how little people know of THEIR MILITARY. And how most don't care to know. I had a hard time at first dealing with the statement but now I just don't even bother to answer some of the crazy questions. Just remember we are a very specially and elite group. Be proud of your D and know that you are NEVER alone. Good Luck to her. She will be GREAT!!!! On another note, I read in my town paper today, how Saturday was ARMED FORCES DAY. The person commented on how little respect their is for are services especially with us having many troops on in IRAQ and Afghanistan. I couldn't agree with them more. Let's all remember our fallen service men and womren on monday!!!!!! Let's Fly our colors proudly!!!</p>
<p>We were at a family function this weekend. Someone asked about my son's plans after graduation. I said the he is going to the Naval Academy. She asked "which one?" I said "THE" Naval Academy. She just replied Oh, I didn't know there was only one. I explained that the navy has one, the army has one, the air force has one, etc. My sister in law then chimes in with "He is going to Annapolis, just like the movie" I immediately thought of this thread. My son and I laughed about it on the way home.</p>
<p>Maybe the insensitive dad liked his odds of seeing his daughter more often? Hmm...what are the odds that he'll know where his daughter is at midnight? What are the odds of your knowing? Wait, that's 100% for you...probably 2% for him...I have finally started letting the comments from the clods just pass...they're not worthy of my time thinking of good retorts.</p>
<p>Thank you to all. </p>
<p>You're all a great bunch and I knew CC would be the perfect place to vent. Maybe his comment was indeed harmless, I really don't know what he meant. Hopefully he didn't intend to be insensitive but it has really stuck with me. Maybe I'm just being too sensitive. I'm trying to be strong! :) </p>
<p>Thanks again for all your support and happy Be-lated Armed Services day to all!</p>
<p>I am going to be a bit of your reality check on the notion that because your kiddo's are going to a Service Academy that you some how have better "odds" of knowing where they are at midnight - LOL!!!</p>
<p>There were many things that were done during Plebe year - yes even in the name of training, that as a mom I quite frankly came to the conclusion that I had my head in the sand. There is plenty that they can get into well before and even after midnight. Imagine my horror when I saw pictures of the boy "escaping" the yard on a 2 am "mission" to points unknown (typically 7/11) - yep the whole squad roaming the streets and here I thought he was safely tucked away in his rack! I even was privy to the conversations about parties, yes with alcohol, on Sat night off the yard at sponsors homes and friends who have rented apartments in the area (yes against regs but happens more than you would think.) Even at a friend's GF apartment - she followed him to Annapolis and rented herself a place within a stones through of gate 3 and hosted many a party. </p>
<p>Just be careful of your expectations, they still are college kids and they do stupid things even at a SA.</p>
<p>Native Texan, I prefer my delusional, rose-colored view, thank you very much.</p>
<p>smoking from a huka........ in the dorm.......does happen!!!!!!!! :)</p>