<p>I am just about 18 years old now, a high school senior, and very likely going to be a plebe next year. in 8th grade I played on the olympic development team for soccer, ran cross country, and played football. I had wild surfer hair, wake boarded, and played guitar in a christian rock band. I was full of energy. I had more fun being a goofy kid than anything. Honestly just relax. He should come to you and say that HE wants to go. I decided in my 9th grade year that was where I wanted to go. I KNEW I wanted to become a Marine and that has not changed every since. I cut my hair, made all A’s, took the ACT, joined clubs, got my Mitchell Award in CAP. All of these things happened very abruptly. He will change if he wants to go to the academy. Give him guidance and encouragement if HE wants to go and help him along the way, but remember, the decision ultimately has to come from deep within him. When he is leading our sailors and Marines into combat, he has got to want to be there, not you, not anyone else. If he wants it bad enough, he will go for it with full tenacity.</p>