Surviving 1st Tri

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
1

<p>I just wanted to thank all of those who helped me through my 1st Trimester. When I first met all the parents association members at the ice breaker they were very encouraging that I would be fine, that the DI's wouldn't crush anyone and that academics though hard are passable. I also found out that there was a cookie cafe and that would be a welcome relief along with Church service each week. In the end, I've survived InDoc, the start of classes, Parents weekend the long haul of first tri, having to switch roommates and even exams! </p>

<p>So now that my son is home, i can honestly say that everyone was right...KP is a wonderful place, my son can succeed and "He'll be Fine" is absolutely correct. I think i can make it now.
From Dad</p>

2

<p>Chief...I can never say with full confidence that it gets better, but so far, I think it has. The rollercoaster still peaks & valleys, but they don't seem as dramatic as they used to be except for occasional bouts. Having my 3C home now before he ships out has been euphoric. Our conversations about KP are always positive. Definitely the right thing to do for him. In fact, his high school buddies, one-by-one are starting to flounder...one's unhappy at college and looking to transfer, another quit already, one is floundering in their major, another will have to extend his time in college to the 6 year plan because he changed majors..the bottom line, these guys are ALL over the place. KP provides direction, a plan over time and a goal setting these guys up for great happenings. Congratulations to your Mid for making it this far! So admirable.</p>

3

<p>There are still some challenging times ahead. The "Dark Ages " are upon us and these are going to be some long, cold, dreary, months. But, with spring comes the hope of Recognition and with hope comes motivation. Things definitely get better after the first year. Not easy, of course, but better. Once they go to sea the time seems to fly. They come back far more mature than they were when they left. They learn to accept responsibility in a way that their high school peers cannot begin to fathom. Mine even declined to have a T.V. in his berthing space because he was afraid it might distract him from his sea project. Who IS this kid? :)</p>

4

<p>Chiefnerdnc, don't let your guard down. Your midshipman will welcome your support and prayers every step of the way. While it would be great if your midshipman "breaks the code" as to study methods and time management, 2nd and 3rd trimester can be even tougher than 1st. In fact, we and other parents have observed that each and every trimester right up to graduation is very hard. Look for moments to be encouraging, because your midshipman will appreciate those skills in the years to come.<br>
Enjoy your midshipman's moments at home. There are so many demands on their time that we really appreciate the few, short visits.</p>

5

<p>Very true atlsmith! As the trimesters pass the academics get harder and the demands on time get greater. Every moment of encouragement you can give your child is a blessing to them. Also, when he returns to school he will see a lot of his classmates gone, and this is a big slap of reality to these kids as well. :)</p>

6

<p>Comments from my S, who passes on the observation that 2nd Tri may be the toughest.</p>

<p>To the plebes:
--You know what is expected of you, now.
--It's time to buckle down, and 2nd may be your toughest.
--but if you can make it through THIS one, you can make it through. </p>

<p>DON'T lose your focus, DON'T lose your motivation.</p>

<h2>2nd Tri is fractured from a scheduling standpoint... multiple holidays break up the focus, and put them in proximity of their earlier friends.. who went to 'normal' college, or pursued other paths. </h2>

<p>I imagine some conversations between you and your buddy who went to 'normal' college(StateU) could go like this...</p>

<p>StateUkid: I can't believe how many girls there are and our school. It's 55% female.
KPkid: I can't believe how many girls there are at our school. It's 55 [the number, NOT the percentage] </p>

<p>StateUkid: I start partying after midnight 4 nights a week, and can barely get up for my 11am class the next day.
KPkid: I am studying past midnight 6 nights a week, and have to get up by 5am to clean for inspection, unless I have the 4am watch (in which case it is earlier).</p>

<p>StateUkid: Sometimes, I get thirsty, and get a coke/pepsi/root beer/iced tea/fiji water/snapple/milk/orange juice/cranberry juice our of the refrigerator in my room, that is, if there is room left over from the beer and wine in it.
KPkid: I have a canteen and water cup. I can get water. </p>

<p>StateUkid: I can't believe how much I smoked this past weekend. How odd, I can't feel my legs.
KPkid: I don't smoke it... I can get kicked out of school. How odd, I <em>CAN</em> feel my legs, which are still aching after the 5 mile Marine Ops run we did before breakfast.</p>

<p>StateUkid: Man, I just think there's too much workload. So, I'm dropping a class, and taking 12 hrs this SEMESTER.
KPkid: Man, I was assigned 19-21 hours this Tri, and will be completing those is about 4-6 week LESS time than you are doing yours in.</p>

<p>StateUkid: I'm going back to hang out at the Student Union at the coffee shop, and talk to my buddies.
KPkid(Plebe):I'm going back to get yelled at.</p>

<hr>

<p>Now, throughout this type of exchange, 95% of the kids who didn't go to college, or went to regular universities are staring in amazement that ANYone would volunteer for such an environment. Their parents, however, are equally but oppositely amazed .... at how DEDICATED, and PURPOSE-DRIVEN, and DIRECTED a teenager CAN be.</p>

<p>It is like that .. with all the service academy kids.
It's just that THIS one is on a snappier pace than the others.
Yahoo. Hang in there ! You can do it !</p>

<p>Set your sights on your goal... Keep working towards it. You WILL get there!</p>

7

<p>Advice from my S goes something like this. The academics this tri are harder. If you think you lost a lot of friends to setbacks and dis enrollments the first tri ....just wait. This tri the deckies take physics and the casualty rate soars. If you go into physics thinking "I had this in high school so I don't have to work that hard" you are setting yourself up for a big fall. Typically the plebes will get "blindsided" by the first exam and dig a hole so deep that it is virtually impossible to climb out of. Take nothing for granted. Many a bright student has been tripped up by this class.</p>

8

<p>Zonk great advice and one of the best posts ever on here. :D</p>

9

<p>KPMarineopsdad and others: Some advice my son was given his plebe year was "find a smart systems engineer and ask them to help you with physics and math." My son is a 3rd class systems engineer, and he finds "smart upper class system engineers" to help him :) I think this advice is good for all!</p>