<p>imatnavy: you are correct in that their is no way a parent can fully understand or appreciate your experience at USNA, or anyone else’s for that matter. And I am sorry if the questions parents, alumni, interested candidates or others pose on here, including discussion, get you so frustrated.</p>
<p>Having said that, try and see things from another perspecitive- that being a parent trying to guide/mentor/learn, an alumist who is proud of their accomplishments and of their institution, and interested candidates trying to get answers- from varying perspectives- as to what to expect. </p>
<p>Instead of feeling so frustrated with our sometimes misguided ignorance, perhaps enlightening us on your personal experience would be better than the ranting- </p>
<p>We all recognize that we are not experts- we don’t even rate “novice” standing on many issues- but then again I for one welcome the comments and opinions offered by the alumni, the questions raised by other parents, the varied opinions/discussions that ensue- and even IF the information is not 100%, it still offers food for thought- and eventually someone in the “know” offers corrected information- and most of it done in the spirit of trying to help and assist others with the process.</p>
<p>It is not necessary, in my humble opinion, to discount the comments made by alumni in particular, when time may have tweeked things a bit here and there- we assume that- but at the same time, when they are “reminded” that their experiences are too remote to hold any merit…that only those there now are in the know…it comes across, to this reader anyway, as discourteous at best, if not disrespectful. </p>
<p>Like previous posts, I would welcome input from current mids who can shead light on their expereinces- and I second the parents who remind us that even those are singular perspectives- everyone sees things differently- even those currently at the academy as we speak.</p>
<p>So I guess what I am trying to say is thankyou for your comments, but please try to have a little patience for those of us who are just trying to learn the system, or at least gain some understanding of how things work.</p>