Just had a few nice conversations with our 2020 mid and wanted to share some of what he said:
“Dad, I’ve learned so much here. Not just academically but in every facet of my life. Seriously. I’m a much better person than I was when I got here”
“oh, son, you’ve always been a great person!”
“no. i May have been a good person, but the academy has made me better. It has taught me so much beyond the classroom. I’ve learned to pay more attention to the world around me. Not just globally but to the people around me. To honestly care what’s happening in their lives every day. I wish I had the words to explain it succinctly, but the best I can say is that this place makes you a much better version of yourself. I love this place and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned here”
For those who are looking at I-Day approaching on the calendar with some trepidation, don’t worry. The academy has been doing this for 175 years and the process works. Even for those for whom it doesn’t fit, match, or work, it works. He has never for a moment regretted or questioned why he was there, but that doesn’t mean if they do that something is wrong. I know he’s had roommates who’ve left the academy. Roommates who questioned why they are there, but remained and love it too.
Having parents who went through it isn’t as big an advantage as it seems. It doesn’t make a kid more likely to stay or not question their reason for being there.
Some will discover that there are parents who go overboard in everything that they do. Some parents who live locally and some with more time and money than others seem to be on the yard every single weekend. Then graduation starts to roll around and you’ll see parents spending close to $50k on their mid’s celebration. Some more. Most spend significantly less.
I still don’t see how spending that much time and money helps their mids. Frankly in a lot of these situations you’d swear it was the parents who earned the appointment and that this is all their achievement. But I digress. The point is, don’t stress about that stuff.
And don’t worry about your mid. They will be fine. They take care of each other almost from day one.
Any time someone has an issue, the rest are there trying to help and keep them there. They don’t want to lose anyone they’ve grown with during their time together. My point is, don’t worry. Love it or hate it, it works for the best.
Any time someone has an issue, the rest are there trying to help and keep them there. They don’t want to lose anyone they’ve grown with during their time together. My point is, don’t worry. Love it or hate it, it works for the best.
Now if only our daughter, who adores her older brother, had any interest in attending. Ah well.
P.S. our mid enjoyed plebe summer. Just don’t tell anyone.
“Dad, I’ve learned so much here. Not just academically but in every facet of my life. Seriously. I’m a much better person than I was when I got here”
“oh, son, you’ve always been a great person!”
“no. i May have been a good person, but the academy has made me better. It has taught me so much beyond the classroom. I’ve learned to pay more attention to the world around me. Not just globally but to the people around me. To honestly care what’s happening in their lives every day. I wish I had the words to explain it succinctly, but the best I can say is that this place makes you a much better version of yourself. I love this place and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned here”
For those who are looking at I-Day approaching on the calendar with some trepidation, don’t worry. The academy has been doing this for 175 years and the process works. Even for those for whom it doesn’t fit, match, or work, it works. He has never for a moment regretted or questioned why he was there, but that doesn’t mean if they do that something is wrong. I know he’s had roommates who’ve left the academy. Roommates who questioned why they are there, but remained and love it too.
Having parents who went through it isn’t as big an advantage as it seems. It doesn’t make a kid more likely to stay or not question their reason for being there.
Some will discover that there are parents who go overboard in everything that they do. Some parents who live locally and some with more time and money than others seem to be on the yard every single weekend. Then graduation starts to roll around and you’ll see parents spending close to $50k on their mid’s celebration. Some more. Most spend significantly less.
I still don’t see how spending that much time and money helps their mids. Frankly in a lot of these situations you’d swear it was the parents who earned the appointment and that this is all their achievement. But I digress. The point is, don’t stress about that stuff.
And don’t worry about your mid. They will be fine. They take care of each other almost from day one.
Any time someone has an issue, the rest are there trying to help and keep them there. They don’t want to lose anyone they’ve grown with during their time together. My point is, don’t worry. Love it or hate it, it works for the best.
Any time someone has an issue, the rest are there trying to help and keep them there. They don’t want to lose anyone they’ve grown with during their time together. My point is, don’t worry. Love it or hate it, it works for the best.
Now if only our daughter, who adores her older brother, had any interest in attending. Ah well.
P.S. our mid enjoyed plebe summer. Just don’t tell anyone.
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, so proceed at your own risk there.
