With the majority of appointments finishing up in the next 2-4 weeks, and with "I" day fast approaching, there's a lot of excitement by some very proud appointees. And there should be. If/When you get your appointment, you have every right to be proud. You have been accepted into not only an academic institution equal to the Ivy League and Prestigious private schools of the country, but you've also committed yourself to serving your country. What greater honor could a person ask for in their lives. But here are some of my suggestions between now and when you walk onto the bus on "I" day.
1. PLEASE enjoy the rest of your senior year. You can't get any of these days back again. Don't make your goals and dreams about tomorrow. LIVE THE DREAM TODAY!!!! Always make it about TODAY.
2. While living for today, as mentioned in #1, don't be STUPID. You don't need bubble wrap, but you also don't need to be stupid. I shouldn't have to explain "STUPID" to anyone here. You're Air Force Academy Appointees. If you don't know what BEHAVIOR is "Stupid", then you deserve to do it and not make it to "I" day. Sorry, that's the truth.
3. This might ruffle some feathers, but I'm going to say it anyway. If you've been involved with scouts, JrRotc, CAP, and similar activities/organizations, please forget all about that on "I" day. If you "Learned" anything in these activities that may be of use to you at the academy, then those things are already ingrained into you and are now considered "SKILLS" that you've learned. DON'T confuse the "SKILLS" that you've learned that can help you at the academy, with WHERE you learned those skills. Let me reword so to ensure you understand what I mean and not dissing anyone. EXAMPLE: KNOWING/Having learned 15 different knots is a "SKILL" that can be usefull during BCT; Being in the Boy Scouts is NOT going to be useful in BCT. Knowing how to stand at attention, march, salute, etc... are "SKILLS" than can be useful during BCT and at the academy; being in JrRotc is NOT going to be useful. Having worked in TEAM environments and learning how to deal with different personalities is definitely something that will benefit you in BCT and the academy; having learned this skills in CAP will NOT benefit you at the academy. In other words, use your SKILLS that you've learned thus far in life to make yourself a better doolie and cadet, but don't confuse the SKILL which is beneficial, with WHERE you learned it, which is NOT beneficial.
4. And finally; when you arrive on "I" day, get on the bus, and step on the footprints, every emotion in the world that you've ever had, will hit you all at the same time. Pride, anxiety, fear, determination, doubt, anger, sorrow, love, etc... Your brain is going to be pure mush. The ONLY thing I can say to help you with this is: EVERY OTHER PERSON STANDING NEXT TO YOU WILL BE FEELING THE EXACT SAME WAY!!! Thousands of cadets have done this before you. Thousands more will do it after you. There is absolutely NOTHING that you can think or experience that another cadet there currently or before you hasn't experienced themselves at one time or another. Maybe some feelings and emotions will affect you more than someone else, but that other person has an emotion or feeling that's affecting them too. So my advice is that once you can recognize these feelings and emotions, you can conquer them instead of allowing them to control you. Doesn't mean to ignore them, just that they are Normal, Natural, Expected, and Going to happen. If you know that, and keep that in the back of your mind, you won't crash. You won't fail. You won't become overwhelmed.
Best of luck to all of you. It's an exciting time. Be proud of yourselves and your accomplishments. Just remember, there's 1300+ others standing side by side with you that have that same pride and accomplishments. And they have the same feelings and emotions. And they have "Skills" that can also be a benefit to you, just as your skills can benefit them. So learn yourself, learn others, learn to help others, and learn to ask for help from others. And you will do great. Give em hell Class of 2014. Mike......