I know this has been done many times before, but Basic is coming right up and I just thought I'd try to put in a couple "pearls of wisdom" that helped me get through the last year (holy crap, it's already been a year...)
1. DON'T wimp out. Meaning, never use being a gril as an excuse. There are going to be times when you know you physically can't keep up (let's be real here, pushups? pullups? yeah...) but don't ever let that stop you from going on like a badass. Even if you have to hold a plank while they're still doing pushups, don't just quit. You are stronger than you think, and I know you'll hear during Basic that your mind quits long before your body. They have a point.
2. That being said, DON'T forget that you're sitll a girl. And that's pretty cool considering your circumstances. NEVER give up who you are for the sake of seeming more "intense". Everyone will see through it and lose respect for you. Respect is important. Especially as a girl and especially here. It is possible to find and walk the line between being a girly girl and (pardon the expression) kind of butch. And it's definitely worth it to find that line.
3. DO learn to cry, but learn to cry at the right time and in the right place. I personally prefer the shower before bed. If you don't get your emotions out somehow - and trust me, you'll have emotions. A lot of them - you'll go insane, but if you let everyone see you at a moment of weakness (say... every day), it will be hard to shake that reputation of being weak.
4. DO ask for help. Whenever, wherever,and for whatever. A lot of us (cough cough ME) come here as stubborn individuals. Personally, I got hammered by academics, and didn't ask for help until late 2nd semester. Bad idea. But this also applies to anything in life here - training sessions, athletics, knowledge, etc (don't forget Rule 1, though).
5. DO learn how to put your hair back, fast, and before coming to Basic so you don't have the added stress of potentially losing your hair. I didn't cut my hair short for basic (just a trim to shoulder blade length) and for me that was best. This sounds stupid, but having my hair long was a reminder that even when I had to hide behind the military/bun by day, at night I was still who I had always been, and still a girl, not just "Basic!" or "Female!" (oh, you'll learn to hate being referred to as "Female").
6. DON'T laugh on the bus. Learn from my mistake. You'll know why soon enough.
7. DO take this place seriously. You did, after all, join the military. I'm not saying go all crazy GI Jane and never smile, but don't forget why you came here....
*8. HAVE A PURPOSE. I don't care what it is, and everyone's will be a little different, but you do have one somewhere - you just need to find a way to put it into words and remember it so that even on terrible horrible days when you want to quit, you have one thing to hold on to.
9. DO smile. And laugh. Because this place can be (scratch that, IS) ridiculous/hysterical, especially during your freshman year. I've laughed more and harder here than ever before. You'll meet people who are funny for all different reasons, and I'll let you find those out yourself, but you'll meet them, and you'll laugh, and you'll make friends over it. BUT, realize that again, you have to find the time and place to laugh and the time and place to "lock it up"
10. REMEMBER: we're here for you. We, the upperclassmen, the girls, your teammates, your squadmates, we're all here for you. We (OK, I can only speak for myself) all want you to succeed, because we know what a great place this is and how lucky we all are to be here. If you have a bad day (I had about... 100 of those), find a girl friend to help you out. I joined a sport and that was my saving grace, but the other freshmen girls in my squad are the girls who really pulled me through. You will make amazing friends here, and they will always be there for you, no matter what. So don't forget that no matter how hard you have it; we all did it, and we're here for you. Really.
Good Luck 2016! Can't wait to see you this Fall (and no, I don't mean that in a sinister way...
)
1. DON'T wimp out. Meaning, never use being a gril as an excuse. There are going to be times when you know you physically can't keep up (let's be real here, pushups? pullups? yeah...) but don't ever let that stop you from going on like a badass. Even if you have to hold a plank while they're still doing pushups, don't just quit. You are stronger than you think, and I know you'll hear during Basic that your mind quits long before your body. They have a point.
2. That being said, DON'T forget that you're sitll a girl. And that's pretty cool considering your circumstances. NEVER give up who you are for the sake of seeming more "intense". Everyone will see through it and lose respect for you. Respect is important. Especially as a girl and especially here. It is possible to find and walk the line between being a girly girl and (pardon the expression) kind of butch. And it's definitely worth it to find that line.
3. DO learn to cry, but learn to cry at the right time and in the right place. I personally prefer the shower before bed. If you don't get your emotions out somehow - and trust me, you'll have emotions. A lot of them - you'll go insane, but if you let everyone see you at a moment of weakness (say... every day), it will be hard to shake that reputation of being weak.
4. DO ask for help. Whenever, wherever,and for whatever. A lot of us (cough cough ME) come here as stubborn individuals. Personally, I got hammered by academics, and didn't ask for help until late 2nd semester. Bad idea. But this also applies to anything in life here - training sessions, athletics, knowledge, etc (don't forget Rule 1, though).
5. DO learn how to put your hair back, fast, and before coming to Basic so you don't have the added stress of potentially losing your hair. I didn't cut my hair short for basic (just a trim to shoulder blade length) and for me that was best. This sounds stupid, but having my hair long was a reminder that even when I had to hide behind the military/bun by day, at night I was still who I had always been, and still a girl, not just "Basic!" or "Female!" (oh, you'll learn to hate being referred to as "Female").
6. DON'T laugh on the bus. Learn from my mistake. You'll know why soon enough.
7. DO take this place seriously. You did, after all, join the military. I'm not saying go all crazy GI Jane and never smile, but don't forget why you came here....
*8. HAVE A PURPOSE. I don't care what it is, and everyone's will be a little different, but you do have one somewhere - you just need to find a way to put it into words and remember it so that even on terrible horrible days when you want to quit, you have one thing to hold on to.
9. DO smile. And laugh. Because this place can be (scratch that, IS) ridiculous/hysterical, especially during your freshman year. I've laughed more and harder here than ever before. You'll meet people who are funny for all different reasons, and I'll let you find those out yourself, but you'll meet them, and you'll laugh, and you'll make friends over it. BUT, realize that again, you have to find the time and place to laugh and the time and place to "lock it up"
10. REMEMBER: we're here for you. We, the upperclassmen, the girls, your teammates, your squadmates, we're all here for you. We (OK, I can only speak for myself) all want you to succeed, because we know what a great place this is and how lucky we all are to be here. If you have a bad day (I had about... 100 of those), find a girl friend to help you out. I joined a sport and that was my saving grace, but the other freshmen girls in my squad are the girls who really pulled me through. You will make amazing friends here, and they will always be there for you, no matter what. So don't forget that no matter how hard you have it; we all did it, and we're here for you. Really.
Good Luck 2016! Can't wait to see you this Fall (and no, I don't mean that in a sinister way...
)
(sorry, long ago got used to the "female" thang) and I thought your post was fantastic. Good for you for putting yourself out there to share your wisdom. I will in turn share with the 2016ers I know, including my own daughter. Thank you, jetset!
