Questions for current or former midshipmen

USNA1985
Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:58:19 +0000

I did this w/o reading Z’s reply, so apologize if I duped his answers.



What aspect of academy life did/do you find the most challenging?



Running. I was (and remain) technically a terrible runner. I also was from a generation (25 yrs ago) when women weren’t encouraged to be athletes the way they are today. I worked hard at it, but it was always a challenge.

BTW, I think 98% of people at USNA find something challenging. For some it’s academics. For some, swimming. For others, lack of freedom. For others, military requirements. Etc. That’s the real challenge about USNA – almost everyone finds some part of it quite difficult.



What aspects of academy life do you find the most rewarding?



Getting through, of course. Graduation is perhaps the single greatest moment in your life. Also the comaraderie within your class and company. Years and years later, you have an immediate bond with fellow grads, your classmates and your company mates that nothing in the civilian world can touch. It’s hard to explain, but it’s definitely there.



What would you recommend doing to prepare?



Figure out now what is likely to challenge you (most people have a pretty good idea) and work your hardest to improve in that area. If you’re a lousy swimmer, join a swim club, take lessons, etc. If you’re bad at pull-ups, find a gym teacher or trainer who can give you exercises to improve. If you have trouble at academics, try to determine what subject(s) are hardest for you. Try to take the most challenging courses now so you’re as prepared as possible for USNA. At USNA, take advantage of all of the study programs that are made available (tutors, extra instruction with professors, study skills programs, etc.).

Do everything you can to learn as much as possible about what you’re getting into. If you’re a junior, sign up for NASS. If you’re offered a CVW, take it, even if you did NASS. Read (recent) books about not only USNA but the other service academies (there’s an excellent one on USMA published a couple of yrs ago). Spend time w/your BGO. If you know any mids or former mids, talk to them about these very same questions. Learn about your career options upon graduation and make sure you would be satisfied with at least two of them.

Finally, search your soul now. Be sure that USNA is what YOU really want. Not what your dad, your mom, your grandfather, your brother, your sister, your friend, your teacher, or anyone else wants. What you want. It’s hard, it’s not “free,” it’s very different than a college experience. There will be bad days for everyone. Every single person. What gets you through those days is your personal desire and determination to stay. If you don’t have it, you’ll quit.

The time to figure this out is now – not in July, August or January of your plebe year. It’s natural to have some doubts about how you’ll do at USNA. However, if you’re having serious doubts about whether it’s the right place for you, don’t just go and hope it all works out. Chances are that it won’t. On the flip side, if it’s what you want, and you get in, the odds of your making it through to graduation are overwhelmingly in your favor.