Thinking about leaving...

<p>Hello I am currently a student at USMMA and I've just started here (class of 2012) but i am thinking about leaving because KP just doesnt seem like the right school for me. If i do decide to leave do my parents get any money back? Do we get any money if i do decide to leave. Please let me know..</p>

<p>You have worked so hard to get to USMMA. You need to carefully consider your decision. Have you spoken to your parents, to anyone at school, like a coach, chaplain, a teacher? I'm sure you are not alone with your doubts. Look at your reasons why you thought this was the right school for you when you were choosing. What has changed? At this point you are probably exhausted (I know my s is) and this is not a good frame of mind to be making such a monumental decision. My best advice -- talk to people you trust.</p>

<p>Blusmma: It's too early to pack it in- you haven't had a chance to even see the place yet really. I can understand what things look like today- but as you go along during the regular year- I suspect that your perspective will change. You may still find that it's not the right place for you but at least hang in there through your first year. To bag it so early will leave you wondering later on in life- "Could I have made it? What would it have been like?" From personal experience I can tell you that you will always be a little disappointed in yourself if you give up before you give it a real shot. So- hang in there, tough it out and give USMMA and yourself a chance before you decide based on just your indoc period. And- as kpmam points pout above- find somebody you can trust to just open up to.
Keep slugging!</p>

<p>BLusmma: send me a PM with your info (company, deck, room, etc...) and we'll have a talk. don't quit yet man, you haven't seen the reason why all of us stay yet.
"those who lose sight of the ultimate become slaves to the immediate" --John C Maxwell</p>

<p>I totally agree with the advice given you so far. Don't quit now, there are a lot of problems if you do. First, you won't be able to get into another school and you'll have to wait around sitting at home for several months, if not a year. Secondly, you haven't had a chance to see what it is really like after the yuck part of plebe year. You really need to stay with it through the end of the first trimester at the very least. That way, if you do decide that it's not right for you, then you can leave knowing you gave it a decent shot and you have some college credits to show for it. No one school/academy is right for everyone, but you have to be fair to yourself and see if you are just homesick, tired, frustrated, all of the above and want something easier and a change of view.</p>

<p>Nobody will think less of you for deciding to leave, but do it the smart way and don't hurt yourself by jumping ship in the middle of the ocean. Wait for a port to disembark, give yourself good options when you leave.</p>

<p>Great advice. You will make it, just hang in there!</p>

<p>BLUSMMA2012, I'll be the first to agree that KP isn't for everyone. I'll give you that. It has to be Hell right now. -BUT- I beg you to seek out & trust is2day as he asked. And soon. Do that first before making any huge decisions.</p>

<p>blusmma2012--If you are in 4th co. let me know. My S is there and I know he can help you. I agree with all the advice you have gotten so far. One more thing, anything worth anything at all is going to be hard at times. Just because you are hitting those times hard now, think about the future. I know I have had difficult times in my life and my advice to you is to try to learn from them. Don't wish them away too fast, because it's during those difficult times that we learn the most. Reach out to others. I can feel confident in telling you that EVERYONE at KP will try to help you. It may NOT be the school for you, but before you pack your bags, KNOW that it's a decision you made with your eyes and heart wide open.</p>

<p>Everyone wants to leave at the beginning. Everyone is so glad they stayed and graduated at the end, especially when the good jobs keep popping up. It may not be for you, but you don't know that yet. You are not into it enough to know. You've just had the hard part, the adjusting, loneliness and the homesickness. Don't be a quitter just because it's hard, stick it out. Even if you leave after a year, you have learned some character building traits of sticking to it. My guess is that after a year you will want to stay.</p>

<p>Cookie Cafe is starting this Thursday 1-5pm (or I can stay a little later if you have classes until 5). Come on over to Land Hall and you will see another side of Kings Point, and it's not all military, stress and seriousness. I will be there baking, and I give MOM hugs freely. Introduce yourself to me, and we'll chat. My husband wanted to quit at the beginning, and my son went to KP too. They are so glad they stayed!!</p>

<p>BLUSMMA2012.....Added to KPMOM's post. This Thursday the Mid-Atlantic Parent's Club is hosting a pizza part for their Mids right after cookie cafe. So, even if you cannot make it to the Cookie Cafe, please feel free to come to the Pizza Party (even if you are not from the Mid-Atlantic!) I will be there and I know that is2day4him will as well as my son....please come and talk to us. It too will be fun and relaxed non regimental where you can truly get some good advice. Just tell your CTO and PC and state you are going to the Parent's Club Pizza Party at Land Hall for accountability.</p>

<p>You have no idea why he wants to quit. His reasons may be valid. If you are going to attempt to help him, do so with an open mind. To stereotype by assuming that his probably very unique reasons are the same as your husband or son/daughter is not helping him at all.</p>

<p>I have decided to give it a trimester. If at the end of the trimester i still feel it is not for me then i plan to leave. but i am going to give it a chance. If i do leave i plan on going to another college where they will offer me an AFROTC scholarship. But for now i am staying at KP and really going to see if it works.</p>

<p>Smart, good going. That gives you time to make plans with an informed decision and gives you an exit strategy if you still feel the same way. That is a good skill you'll need to use throughout life, learning to be content in your present situation. And by that I mean to accept and learn while you are there. Have a sound plan of action before leaving your present situation. I would guess that approximately 95% of all cadets and midshipmen at the academies felt the exact same way sometime in their life at school. The academies are tough places in more ways than one. But you probably have figured out that the toughest aspect of it all is the mental combat you have with yourself.</p>

<p>You've made a good decision.</p>

<p>blusmma,
i still want you to come talk to me. my door is always open. i can help you!</p>

<p>This is my first post to this site. My son is one of those newbee green plebe candidates. I dont hear from him too much, but I think of him everyday and wonder how he's doing. (did say he doesnt get much sleep, just what I want to hear!) The list of such sweet and supportive posts speak to me of the wonderful support this school has to offer. It lets me know he is in good hands. Yes its tough but it is so worth it! Thanks guys!</p>

<p>Thanks for all the great advice and support shown to this cadet. I believe this is my child and I am hoping she will listen to everyone on this site. It is exactly what we, as parents, have told her. Hopefully coming from other people she will finally hear what we have been trying to say. To give it her all and she will be amazed by what she can and will accomplish. I hope she opens up to one of you offering an ear to listen and maybe a shoulder to cry on if needed. And to the mom out there offering hugs, if she introduces herself please give her one, she needs it. Thank you all!!</p>

<p>It is NOT "great advice and support shown to a cadet" to tell them they should stay without knowing and understanding their concerns. Someone, with an open mind, should sit down and listen to this cadet, not tell them, without understanding their concerns, to stick it out. This is being totally irresponsible.</p>

<p>lighten up 69 - go back and look at the folks offering to sit down and listen.</p>

<p>69, if you look at what those of us that are able to sit down and talk have said, we're WANTING them to tell us what's going on. we know that it's not for everyone, and that's ok, but it really is too early to tell. i want this kid to talk to me, for whatever it's worth i know it's nice to have an upperclassman that's walked that mile help you through. i had people do it for me when i was a plebe.</p>

<p>it sounds to me like you just want this kid to quit just because they're discouraged. i kindly, and respectfully, ask that you let me talk to this kid and don't push them to quit with those kinds of remarks. if they don't stay that's fine. but we want to see that they make the best decision for their future.</p>

<p>is2day4him, don't assume what I am thinking. You are assuming that he is discouraged as are several others on the forum. I am simply cautioning against a categorically recommendation to stay which several posters have made. It may be something entirely different. I am simply stating to most definitely hear them out and then have an open mind in re recommendations. All cases are different.</p>