Questions for current or former midshipmen

Zaphod
Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:25:54 +0000

Challenging: Academics.

Quite frankly, they kicked my butt. Sure, I struggled with the physical fitness requirements, but I managed. The academics, on the other hand, were just murder for me. Part of that was that I never developed good study habits, part was that I was too busy dreaming about what a great time I was going to have driving submarines or scuba diving, and part of it was the fact that my usual good memory in the classroom completely failed me for four years. The result? I didn’t have the grades to get into nuke school, so I drove ships for five years. Nothing sucks worse than to sit there on Service Selection Night and having to go SWO because you blew all your chances to do anything else.

Rewarding: Graduation.

Whoever said that USNA is the worst place in the world to be AT but the best place in the world to be FROM deserves a PhD, Nobel Prize, Pulitzer, etc., for that one statement. Believe you me, it’s worth every little PITA you suffer during those four years, and you really only remember the good parts. What bad parts you remember you’ll laugh at, too.

Recommendations: Get in shape and STUDY.

Forget your dreams and your ambitions for four years. Concentrate on doing your absolute best in everything, so when the time comes you have the luxury of being able to choose what it is you’re going to do. Take advantage of every academic, professional, and personal opportunity that the place presents you with. Sure, you can have fun, but always remember that you have your whole life to get drunk, get laid, watch TV, or whatever. You’ve only got four years to get USNA right, and there are no do-overs.

You may ask why I offer my recommendations from the point of view of already being a Mid rather than from that of a candidate. Fair enough. I do that so that you know what your mindset must be BEFORE you get there because you’re going to be moving too fast to sit around and reprogram yourself once you’re in.

The other thing you MUST do RIGHT NOW is decide, once and for all, just how much the place means to you. I simply refused to quit. I got by on sheer pig-headedness. They were going to have to carry me out in a box before I quit. No matter how lousy the grades or how bad I blew the run, or whatever, I refused to quit even when I felt like quitting. All I wanted was my ring and my diploma, everything else could go spit. If you don’t think that way, you’d better take a good hard look inside yourself and see if this is what you really want to do.

Now, all that being said, remember this: Anywhere from 950-1,100 folks not a whole unlike yourself graduate from the damned place each year. If THEY can do it… Hell, if I was able to do it… YOU can, but you have to WANT to.

Good luck. :)