<p>It's a combination of having absolutely no idea what we're getting into, and no idea how to quit beause we've never quit anything before.</p>
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Do thy have a skewed or inaccurate sense of Academy life?
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<p>Yes and no.</p>
<p>The problem is, what is represented in the Catalogs and the seminars and NASS is accurate, but only to a point. It's one thing to look at a photograph of an upperclassman holding an IP in front of the nose of a Plebe and think, "Wow! That's so cool!". It's quite another to BE the Plebe in the picture.</p>
<p>Additionally, it's difficult to capture the general BS that often flies around the place. Parades get old REALLY quick, academics are a bear, you can't always go to your favorite ECA because some stupid lecturer is coming instead, spot room inspections can ruin your day, etc. The example of having to wear raingear one afternoon to class when there wasn't a cloud in the sky always sticks in my mind. The OOW that day just wanted to see who would ignore the order. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>As with just about anything else in life, you get one point of view from the marketing, and another from reality. It doesn't mean the marketing is wrong, it's just selective, but that's not a surprise, is it?</p>
<p>A large part of what I try to do here is make the new guys realize what they're getting into, both the good and the bad. There is a definite good to the place, or else no one would be applying, let alone 10 times the amount than can be admitted. But by the same token, it's not all brass bands, sailing yawls, sunshine, and the Blue Angels.</p>
<p>It is why I have often (and in some cases, LOUDLY) jumped on parents of Midshipmen. They only see the good side of the place, whereas their poor Mid sees the bad side (sometimes only the bad side). They cannot understand why guys like Motivator and JamTex sound so down on the place. I can, because I've been there. What I try to tell guys like them is that there is a light at the end of that dark tunnel, and that it's all worth it in the long run. I try and tell parents to back off and let their Mid breathe.</p>
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Knowing him (and thinking he is typical Academy material) I can only conclude that he desires the opportunity to be challenged and to survive those testings in a way that most other high schoolers would never consider.
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<p>That is exactly right, and we're all the better for it.</p>
<p>The reality of MOST jobs do not reflect what is in the catalogue . . . that is a realization that comes with experience and is not unique to the Academy experience. </p>
<p>The catalogue description of my former government job could be described something like: High level, governmental position involving foreign counter-intelligence and domestic anti-terror efforts; you will work on a daily basis coordinating military and law-enforcement assets, including human and electronic intelligance. See the country, some foreign travel. </p>
<p>Reality? Governmental bureacracy, explaining the most minute of expenditures, long nights listening to somebody sleep [electronically], following somebody across the country on his way to visit his mother; tracking the movement of money to see if anything improper comes up; watching a building that doesn't move one inch overnight; evaluating the applicability of the law to particular incidents or plans. Connecting dots.</p>
<p>It's spelled J-O-B. Even an Astronaut only gets to fly every so often; in between? One more session floating in a pool to simulate weightlessness. One more session reviewing the orbital calculations. More exciting than selling insurance? Sure. But mind-numing nonetheless.</p>
<p>As a parent of a USNA mid, all I can do is focus on the good stuff. Personally, I have no illusion about the drudgery that makes up any given day. Like monkeys, on a regular basis, the mids are called upon to perform at any given moment. Go to a parade, answer a question, go to a dance, etc. It's a different life. It's what the taxpayer pays for. No job is perfect. No instiution is perfect. Has his experience, overall, been better than that of a civilian college? I am about 90% sure his answere would be yes.</p>
<p>Government jobs are, by nature, horribly bureacratic and dopey. On the other hand, the government has the very best toys and when you get to play with them, nothing beats it.</p>
<hr>
<p>Having said that: I understand where an 18-year old might not appreciate what he is getting into. It demeans parents, however, to assume they cannot understand what happens at USNA just because they did not attend. [Somewhat similar to saying a doctor--or anybody who has never had your particular disease--cannot understand your pain; or, for that matter, how anybody without a child at the Academy could even understand what it is like to be a parent of a mid, regardless of whether you attended the Academy or not.] I am quite capable, based on experiences that are similar to but not identical, of appreciating my son's experience this year. [I will give credit to many others for having the same capability.]</p>
<p>Most 50-year olds did not get to where they are, did not manage to have a child to admitted to the Academy, by not keeping a perspective on life. Of course I speak of the good things about the Academy. Of course, I think it is a great opportunity. [Believe me, and this is nothing against the determination of my child, who is doing quite well there, if I had been dead-set against my son going to USNA, I don't think it would have happened.] Does that mean I am blind or ignorant to the reality? No.</p>
<p>Sealion: At the end of the day, my son went to USNA because it was the hard choice for him. It would have been SIGNIFICANTLY more easy for him to attend the Ivy League schools to which he was accepted. I don't really think he had some romantic notion of sailing the high seas, flying a jet, or becoming a marine. [Quite honestly, I still question how he became to be there.] I think he wanted to know that he could do it. In retrospect, witnessing his growth this past year, I think it was the best decision he could have made.</p>
<p>I think it goes beyond just desiring the opportunity to be challenged and survive. A lot of these kids, especially the ones who get it, have a desire to serve that is very rare in high schoolers as well.</p>
<p>At least for my son, that desire to serve has helped keep plebe year in perspective. But the ego satisfaction of knowing that he is doing something not a lot of others would even try doesn't hurt either.</p>
<p>Bill, as a former "company" gal, I loved your advertised v. actual job description. I knew I liked you!</p>
<p>Also, thanks for leaping in to the fray to defend us parents who are proud of our kids but not idiots about life's realities.</p>
<p>Zaphod, keep up the good work.</p>
<p>Sealion, gotta have faith in their choices, don't we?</p>
<p>The parents don't need defending. They are rightfully proud of their kids.</p>
<p>However, they need to realize that they only see one side, and that constantly going on about that one side gets really annoying to those who know both sides (especially when the poor kid is still GOING through both sides).</p>
<p>No, I don't know exactly what it means to be a USNA parent. I "know" that only second-hand. Likewise, USNA parents don't know what it's like to be a Mid. THEY only "know" THAT second-hand.</p>
<p>That's why you've seen me tell both sides to take it easy on the other, but especially the parents on the Mids, because I know FIRST-hand what a pain that can be.</p>
<p>Pointing those details out is not meant to be demeaning. It's meant to describe reality. Reality isn't always pretty.</p>
<p>Hey, I said it with a smiley! :) Don't git yer tightie-whiteys in a knot. </p>
<p>OK, I'll admit I didn't care for the 'tude toward brother Zaphod. We all are lucky to hear from some one who has been through the place. It's nice to also hear the point of view of someone who's in the place. Both, of course, are correct. Their differences of opinion are just a matter of perspective. </p>
<p>Sorry to offend. I can't abide undeserved meanness.</p>
<p>You only know "first hand" what a pain your parents were, apparently, to you.
Everything else is second-hand.</p>
<p>JamTex does not appear to think his parents are a pain. I will take some liberty and [based on the almost-done-with-finals, one-hour conversation that we had with our mid last night] and state that I don't think our kid/mid thinks we have been a pain. Everybody's situation is unique. Ce-la-vie.</p>
<p>You are correct, the reality of failed careers, failed marriages, failed parenting is not pretty.
These kids will have plenty of time to realize that; right now is not that time.</p>
<p>it's hard to accept that the realities of this academy are not always as pretty and pristine as the catalogue says-which i'm sure all of you know. however, you can walk the grounds and have your kids do nass and a cvw but until you've (or they've) actually lived in Mother B you can't really say you know about the side of the academy that makes mids cynical and say things like IHTFP.</p>
<p>and also, i think zaphod's heard meaner things than motivator's post...and he seems to be doing fine.</p>
<p>"Pointing those details out is not meant to be demeaning. It's meant to describe reality. Reality isn't always pretty."-that's so so true.
trying to turn this back around to something the class of 2010 can take, understand that as plebes you will be held to a different standard than the rest of the brigade. don't give up your motivation, but you don't have to look at everything with rose-colored glasses either. i think one of the roughest transitions plebes have to make is going from being veritable golden children to...not worth much. you can't brag about going to the naval academy, because everyone else does too. so make sure when you come that you're a well-adjusted, sociable person. trust me, the interviews don't screen out the awkwards like you'd think, and being able to be humble and relate well to people will literally make plebe summer/year lightyears easier. </p>
<p>my biggest admonition: don't be a JOE!</p>
<p>i'm sorry this was pretty much a ramble, but all of '09 got to leave yesterday after their chem final for intersessional leave and i'm stuck here in the hall til tuesday because i'm in a firstie english class and my final's not til then and i'm pretty much hating life.</p>
<p>You are a victim of your own success at English, huh? Do you at least get liberty? Hope you can get a nice meal and relax a bit. </p>
<p>Truly, Z needs no defending. Hehehe.</p>
<p>the best part is i'm on duty haha. so no, i can't even escape for a little while:(</p>
<p>Who said I was unhappy? Did I suggest disillusionment by starting out my writing with: "Listen, I still think this is a pretty wonderful place."</p>
<p>2010: You will do fine. Everybody does fine. Some will quit, most won't.</p>
<p>Best advice I can give? Quit coming to this thread and wasting time . . . you won't have the time to visit here next year and, if you do, you are wasting time. [On the other hand, wasting time is sometimes--SOMETIMES!--okay. It's mindless, harmless, and better--well maybe not better than, but less frowned upon--than porn.] Virtually nothing of what you read here will be remembered once the pressure starts. </p>
<p>Let's see, I have about 50 posts in over a year; I think Wheelah is about the same. Average? about .2 a day. [I am sure somebody else will look it up.] Adults? Some, 4 -5 per day. That's a lot of time with nothing better to do.</p>
<p>Cynical? Unavoidably, Yes. Let's just say that I have a jump on most my age in the cynicism category. I suppose, based on the adult postings here, they will catch up.</p>
<p>Unhappy? No. Last week, okay, yes; overall, I made my bed and I am sleeping in it. I'm fine. It's not HORRIBLE. It's like a pimple that won't go away.</p>
<p>Disillusioned? Absolutely not. Don't read more into it than what was said. See first line above.</p>
<p>Wheelah, I'm sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by a JOE? Is that an "average Joe?" I see the "typical Academy material "high schooler as several cuts above most other kids in the same school (that's just my personal experience.) He has wanted to serve since 9/11 and I can understand that. What he chooses to do with is life is up to him and I think it's my job to be a supportive parent regardless. However, it would've been a heckuva lot easier if he only wanted medical school.</p>
<p>Wheelah . . .you are not alone. Son is stll there also and, I think, too, he is on duty, has duty, watch, or something this weekend. He does get to come home on Monday!
Then back on Sunday.
We go on Tuesday. Bit of an odd schedule, but, in true fashion, we'll take 'em when we can get him.</p>
<p>I think Joe is a derogatory term referring to someone who follows all of the rules, rats on those who don't, and never relaxes... therefore incurring the hate of those around them. GI Joe.</p>
<p>Thanks for the definition,dbh. I certainly hope (and think) I haven't raised a Joe.</p>
<p>Why would you attend an academy and have intentions of being anything other than a Joe??</p>
<p>if you haven't gone to an academy or parented a mid, you don't really know the full connotation of the word "joe". they don't just follow the rules: they are insane about them. they fry their classmates. they are pathetic and the only thing they excel at is memorizing midregs and hounding their classmates. they are neither helpful or admirable. joes don't follow the rules to do the right thing: they do it so that they can look down on their classmates. they are the epitome of the "high school zero to naval academy hero" saying. they are a joke at the academy.</p>
<p>don't ever confuse "joe" with a good mishipman. lol they are quite different.</p>
<p>Yeah, don't be that you guys.</p>
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You are correct, the reality of failed careers, failed marriages, failed parenting is not pretty.
These kids will have plenty of time to realize that; right now is not that time.
[/quote]
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<p>Huh? What on earth are you talking about? :confused:</p>
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you won't have the time to visit here next year and, if you do, you are wasting time.
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<p>LOL! How true! :D</p>
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if you haven't gone to an academy or parented a mid, you don't really know the full connotation of the word "joe". they don't just follow the rules: they are insane about them. they fry their classmates. they are pathetic and the only thing they excel at is memorizing midregs and hounding their classmates. they are neither helpful or admirable. joes don't follow the rules to do the right thing: they do it so that they can look down on their classmates. they are the epitome of the "high school zero to naval academy hero" saying. they are a joke at the academy.</p>
<p>don't ever confuse "joe" with a good mishipman. lol they are quite different.
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<p>Wow. We didn't have that term. We just called them bilgepumps, or worse. Considering the definition, I'll bet they're SUPER popular. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Has this replaced "sweat" at all?</p>