It's All Okay
Winston Churchill : "Success is not final, failure is not fatal it is the courage to continue that counts."
For any of you who took this road take a look in the mirror tonight and see a person that has a passion for everything this nation stands for. Your journey is not over it has only just started.
As a parent of a young man that also started this journey and who also recieved word that he did not get the scholarship I can say it hurts. Any parent that sees this will feel for you and respect you for what you set out to do. Some parents are quite happy their child made it and I'm sure they still feel for you.
Your young and strong with a lot to offer, you did not go into this as just any high school kid. You knew you had something to offer not just to yourself but to our nation and for me and others there is nothing more special.
This is not a failure to achieve, if anything it's a success of growing. You all need to understand that the pool of applicants was very very difficult to choose from. This does not mean your less of a choice it only means that the youngman and woman next to you had just one more detail that put them ahead.
I know my son and I know what he has done to get ahead. I saw his officer interview write-up and it was all 5's from a 06 - 07 soon to be. A captain of a 90 member team, lettered in three sports, countless hours serving the community, NHS, very good SAT's, and more but there was another young man or woman that had one more thing the Navy needed.
My son told me "Dad, it's okay, I'm still going to college and the NROTC unit officer at "X" school said I will have options if I do not get this." He remains on track. I'm confident that he will get through this and either get it next year or go onto OCS. He has our full support as parents and we love him for who he is just like your own parents.
I have thick skin from my own life journey but this was the first time my eyes welled up not with a sadness but with pride knowing this is not keeping him down.
Take a look in the mirror tonight and see a person that has a passion for everything this nation stands for. Your journey is not over it has only just started.
Enjoy college, smile and do not give up on this dream, it's still there. Good luck to you all!
Pima, thank you so very much for your guidance, insight and feedback. All the very best to you and your family!