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<p>Oh my!!! I step away for a few weeks and look what happens! </p>
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<p>Well, my daughter has brought home a stray- not sure “appalling” quite fits, but certainly not what I had in mind-
Not that I can do anything about it (believe me, I have tried!) - although I am not raising up the white flag on this one quite yet. </p>
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<p>It remains the mission of the USNA to seek candidates with high moral character. For the individual, it is a work in progress. They will learn lessons on loyalty, honesty, truth, Ship, shipmate, self. They are an accelerated path to maturity, something that becomes increasingly evident with each passing year on the yard.</p>
<p>Do they stumble? Yes. They are still young adults. They have the capacity to be just like their contemporaries, making stupid decisions, doing stupid things, taking stupid risks. They will learn quickly, and sometimes harshly, what is expected of them, and the bottom line is that they will be held to that standard. Are their second chances for those that stray a bit too far? Sometimes- depending on the infraction. But for others, the first mistake will be the last one they get to make at USNA. That is but one fundamental thing that separates them out from their contemporaries in civilian colleges.</p>
<p>Getting drunk on weekends- scoring with girls-
There are consequences to everything.
They will figure it out, and if not, it will be figured out for them. Not always with the outcome they want, but more than not, the outcome that they deserve.</p>
<p>What your daughter has to figure out is if this is what she deserves. If it is not, then she need not tolerate it.</p>