<p>What becomes of your personal life when you hit the military life at the academy? Is there a college radio? Is there a glee club? Theatre program? Where will we find time to invest in these things?</p>
<p>As for my Mid, the personal life continued, just as if he were at any other college. You do what you can handle and what you enjoy.</p>
<p>Yes there is a glee club and theater.</p>
<p>My Mid, as a Plebe last year, played in the Midshipman Orchestra, was in the Pit Orchestra for the Winter Musical, he is a photographer for the Luckybag (Yearbook). Participates in Intramural's, sails with the sailing squadron and is a member of the flying club. He had his road bike on the yard and bikes with a roommate on some Saturdays and this coming year is adding taking his golf clubs and planning on playing golf some. He did this all while maintaining great grades and making the Supe's list. </p>
<p>Check out the EC's: <a href="http://www.usna.edu/extraact.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/extraact.htm</a>
The Music Programs:<a href="http://www.usna.edu/Music/Accessable/new/ensembles.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/Music/Accessable/new/ensembles.html</a></p>
<p>Are you kidding? Plebe year will be tough and you will give up lots of things. Surviving will become your hobby. However, there are lots of activities and you can participate as long as you can keep up with the basics (studying, eating and sleeping ... in that order). </p>
<p>USNA '82</p>
<p>Each Plebe handles Plebe year differently, it is tough and you will give things up, but participation in activities that you enjoy does not necessarily go by the wayside because you are at USNA. (Now if it is sitting around listening to music - forget it you will be giving that up) Participation in sports and EC's is mandatory and is used when calculating your Order of Merit (class standing). There are many things to do, you just need to make sure that you can handle what you choose and don't over extend yourself.
Study time for plebes is mandatory as is lights out. If you take care of business, study and don't let yourself get behind, you will be able to participate in activities that you enjoy.</p>
<p>plebe year i was in gospel choir, protestant choir, and pistol. it's hard to find time to do homework plus with the movement orders.</p>
<p>I would have to say that while some plebes find time for "extra's," and still maintain terrific grades (profmom- congrats to your son!)....others find balancing academics and other activities a constant challenge- especially varsity athletes, and especially during in-season. It's not so much that there isn't "time" to be found in your day as it is "physical fatigue" leading to mental fatigue after very demanding practices, and then there is the "extra's" that go along with that- physical training, weightlifting, trainer visits for any ailments. team meetings, etc. Add in a class that you might be having difficulty with (chem , calc can be troublesome for many plebes) and "extra time" must be allotted to EI (extra instruction). Some, with the best of intentions to "read ahead- get ahead" will struggle to keep from nodding off before lights-out, while others will get distracted with computer games (don't get caught) or surfing the net and suffer the academic (and other) consequences of that. When all is said and done, there is still only 24 hours in a day, no matter how you divide it.</p>
<p>Yet, lots of mids manage it- good, if not great, grades, ECs, D&B, choir, sport-of-your-choice, theater group, pistol group, etc...lots to choose from if you can balance it with the "must-do's." For each, it is very individualized.</p>
<p>The best advice is to know your priorities and keep them upfront and center- then go from there and add what you can handle. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>navy2010 brings up a good point to keep in mind - know your priorities and then add in your EC's as you feel that you can handle them. </p>
<p>Playing a varsity sport does make participation in EC's a challenge. </p>
<p>Lots to do, just know your limits and keep your priorities in line.</p>
<p>My husband's #1 word of advice to his daughter who is Class of 2010 was MAKE SURE YOU FIND THINGS TO DO APART FROM USNA DEMANDS! He meant things like joining intramural sports that you like, or the pistol club, or any of the music opportunities, etc. He said it was necessary for one's survival from day one. </p>
<p>As my daughter is now past her Plebe year, she concurs how true this is.</p>
<p>You may not be able to keep your 'hobby' from your high school life - but there are so many choices for mids to do things from joining the Socratic Club to Swing Dance clubs to being in the Halloween concert as a goblin to joining the sail teams to learning to play bagpipes....There literally is something for everyone and if you don't find what you want, you start one up!</p>
<p>My Plebe last year managed to perform in the Halloween concert, the Messiah concert, the Oklahoma musical, begin to learn the bagpipes, travel with the Women's glee club and protestant choir - attent retreats with officer's christian fellowship, join the swing dance club, attend lectures by other clubs of interest and still find time to do well at USNA with a final overall rank within her company that told us not only did she do an excellent job finding 'hobbies' that kept her sanity during Plebe year - but her upperclassman thought she did a good job as well juggling everything else that is part of the equation of being a Midshipman at USNA.</p>
<p>After the end of Plebe year I had the opportunity to talk with 2 of her Firsties - they had been 'in charge' of her from Plebe summer through the year in one form or another as her Company Commanders and one comment they told me was that the mids who do well, like mine did - were the ones who GOT INVOLVED in the life of the Academy outside of just class and knowing rates. </p>
<p>so by all means - robothenry and others - remember that hobbies are definitely part of the equation for success as a member of a Service academy life!</p>
<p>All these posts are very accurate. Just remeber that Plebe year is VERY structured. You will be told when to get up, when to go to bed (although a flashlight in the closet or under the sheets was very common in my day), what to wear, along with having to memorize and recite pages and pages of data (that has nothing to do with academics except exercising your mind). In my time, you were not allowed radios and TV's. Your "off" time was from noon on Saturday until lights out at 2200 (10PM for all you civies). Sunday was a major rest day but still had to stay on campus. One advice is to definetly sign up for the Midshipman Sponsor program. These are families in the area that will sponsor a Mid. They will invite you over to their homes, feed you, give a place to sleep and relax. You can become another member of the family. After 25 years I still fondly remember my sponsor and all my roommate's sponsors. In fact, my roommate married one of his sponsors daughter and are still happily married. The post above was right - balance is the key. When you get there you will soon realize what you can and can't do. It's a long 4 years. Give yourself the first semester to get oriented then take it from there. It's a great school and I never once regreted going there and would do it all over again in a heart beat.</p>
<p>Extracurricular Acitivties and Club Sports are being changed. Pretty much time will be extremely limited for "personal hobbies."</p>
<p>If an activity group does not support the following bullets, then they probably are on a "low level" status OR removed. There are no more Brigade Support Activities.</p>
<ol>
<li>We are a nation at war</li>
<li>We are face of the Navy</li>
<li>Developing MIDN into the best officers</li>
</ol>
<p>Most performing arts, singing groups, etc. are now on a "low level" ECA status.</p>
<p>To be more clear, and not just with ECAs, USNA is shifting its rudder. Standby for changes.</p>
<p>No more Halloween Organ Concert. No travel for the Glee Club...</p>
<p>All very short sighted in the scheme of life. </p>
<p>The Brigade is the face of the Navy, but can't be seen. </p>
<p>Yes USNA is now developing in the best officers that will have no personal hobbies, just really boring people. That will really serve the Navy well.</p>
<p>Your participation in hobbies depends on what your hobbies are and how much extra time you have. As I recall (it was a long time ago), when I started at USNA I enjoyed watching football, needlework, crosswords, reading, and probably a few things I've forgotten (I don't consider competitive sports to be a "hobby", although others may). Watching Navy football wasn't a problem. :) The others items I pretty much did only on leave.</p>
<p>However, it was ok b/c I had other, different things to keep me more than busy and entertained at USNA. I developed new "hobbies" there -- like swimming for recreation. And, I still enjoy all of my original "hobbies" today -- so it's not as if you're going to lose them permanently even if you don't have time, or aren't able, to do them during plebe year or even while at USNA.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yes USNA is now developing in the best officers that will have no personal hobbies, just really boring people. That will really serve the Navy well.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I do costumes and makeup for the Halloween concert every year! :mad: I love the new emphasis leadership alone but they shouldn't degrade other activities.<br>
I signed today
yippee</p>
<p>Congrats on your signing! </p>
<p>(will miss the Halloween concert....did not get to go last year, but was sure hoping not to make that same mistake this year! )</p>