<p>I woke up on saturday morning and the first thought on my mind was : "it's the first day of NASS 2011!" and began to pray and wonder about all the amazing and wonderful young people who are working towards the same dreams and goals as so many of us from the families of the Class of 2010 did, just one year ago. It continues to make me proud to be an American to read the stories posted in this thread from you all, about the young people following just one year behind my child and all the others going in just 3 weeks to USNA!</p>
<p>Like so many, my child told me on Sept.11, 2001, she would serve her country....and in the same sentence told me where to bury her. Chilling words from the mouth of a 12year old girl at the time, but clearly this was her calling - and throughout all of 8th grade and high school she has never waivered.</p>
<p>We are in the heady time of lots of awards presentations, lots of accolades, lots of people congratulating us all....but come June 28th - the real journey, the real challenge will begin.</p>
<p>Hang in there parents and incoming high school seniors. It's worth all the blood, sweat, tears, lack of sleep, headaches, exhaustion, frustrations, tests, tests, tests, and pain.....Last year there was one word our BGO told our daughter, and I'll share it here: 'PERSEVERE!'</p>
<p>Exactly how many pairs of shorts or athletic gear do I need to pack? I'm attending session 3 and I want to know all there is to know and I want to pack all I need to pack.</p>
<p>How much do you think I should pack because i'm attending session 3 and I would like all the information I can get. What were the daily schedules like? What must I be prepared for? How were the classes? Any information you have would be very useful to me.</p>
<p>homegurl_042807: Chill out, girl! Just pack as little as possible. You will be fine. They'll feed you, clothe you, and shelter you. Just pack exactly what they told you to pack, and you will be 100% fine. I packed the exact amount of what they told us to bring and was 100% fine. </p>
<p>Daily schedule and classes, eh? Haha. You don't want us to ruin your adventure, do you? Just be ready as they told you (it's amazing how they tell you exactly what to have and what to do and they're always right!). Stay in shape if you're in shape from a sport; start running and doing calensthetics if you're not in shape.</p>
<p>homegurl.. take 2 pr a day for Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed Total 8 and you will be fine .. And dont forget GOOD WHITE SOCKS and 2 pr of athletic shoes.. One pair to toss after sea trials.. my daughter is there now.</p>
<p>Hey; I haven't been keeping up with this thread, so I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I just learned that they cancelled the "Social" event that we had last year, (a.k.a., the dance). Replaced it with a picnic. Sorry 2011!</p>
<p>i called my friend today who is a squad leader at nass, and she says they (the kids) are all doing really well, and that it was funny because she heard one kid call his parents and say "well, you know, it's really tough and challenging, everyday's a struggle, but i love it here!" and she laughed because he'd been there like 1.5 days.</p>
<p>Wheelah, how are the rooms assigned in Bancroft on each deck (new vocab word) by gender? What I'm wondering is since squads have both male and female people how and where do they get together as a squad. Are your squad members housed in nearby rooms?</p>
<p>do you mean during the ac year? because i don't remember how it was during my own ss, but i could ask one of my classmates. but during the ac year everyone is assigned rooms (boys with boys, girls with girls obviously) but its by no means based on what squad you're in. the firsties get the best rooms, the second-class the next choice, etc. squads "get together"..in king hall, during formation, i guess if they happen to go on a squad outing, but your squads aren't such a vital part of life that you live near them. they're who you eat with and form up with at formation, they're who you go to for comearounds, and your squad leader is who you go to for squad counseling.</p>
<p>Does the academy provide sheets/banket or do they bring their own sleeping bag from home?</p>
<p>For NASS you bring your own sheets or sleeping bag.</p>
<p>Panhandlegal-</p>
<p>I'm thinking you mean for NASS. They have provided a fitted sheet and blanket under an emergency (one young lady's went somewhere else- airline lost it), but it is encouraged you bring your own. </p>
<p>Are you going to II or III?</p>