<p>Is anyone else's plebe, knob, etc struggling mightily? What are they saying, what are you saying to them?</p>
<p>Define "struggling mightily". </p>
<p>PT? Academics? Pro Knowledge? All of the above?</p>
<p>I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but it doesn't get any easier...</p>
<p>If anyone is curious as to the official policy on academic "satness", shoot me an IM or an e-mail. I have my hands on the real deal and will be happy to share.</p>
<p>I suspect every one of them are struggling in similiar and different ways. Personally I believe mine's biggest difficulty is being away from a very ill father.</p>
<p>We went through the West Point experience as parents a few years ago and are doing it again. We learned that A LOT, even MOST, perhaps ALL cadets struggle with something or another over the course of the four years. The challenges are extraordinary and relentless, including academic, military, fitness and the constant stress to perform and excel.</p>
<p>Most survive with the help of classmates, AI, maybe a sympathetic sponsor or instructor that helps them figure things out. Some may go to STAP (summer school) or get placed in a special PT program to remediate deficiencies. Some decide the extra effort isn't worth it and decide to separate. </p>
<p>What should parents say? It probably isn't what you say, but more important to listen and let them unburden. They have all the help there they need to succeed, but they do have to go find it. Sometimes they just need to unload their woes on a sympathetic ear. </p>
<p>Our experience was to NEVER say "you can't come home". No one has the right to tell a cadet they have to continue in this incredibly stressful milieu they have chosen. There really is little comparison to any college experience that most parents have gone through and it is futile to try to buoy them up with stories of your own successes. </p>
<p>It is best to let them talk and sort things out in their own mind. If they are talking about quitting, urge them to last until the end of the semester or preferably to the end of the year so that they can transfer completed credits. There are so many ups and downs that a little time can make a big difference in how they feel about things. </p>
<p>Often they feel better right after they talk to you .... and then you feel AWFUL! Until the next time they call and things may have drastically improved.</p>
<p>mpn237, Thanks for the outstanding post. Lots of great advice and I appreciate you taking the time.</p>
<p>sistersunnie, prayers to you and your child. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be away from an ill parent.</p>
<p>"Often they feel better right after they talk to you...then you feel awful....then things have improved" Pardon my paraphrasing but this is SPOT ON! It's amazing how things change quickly and while you're thinking they're miserable, they've already gotten WAY past it! Great post mpn!</p>