Preparing for plebe summer, beast, etc.

The 'get a hobby' comment is a wonderful suggestion. I would add my 2 cents worth that these forum sites do not count as 'hobbies'.:shake:
 
I wish I had time for a Hobby, I need to get back focus on my business with this little 3 year distraction! I can't wait till he's the heck outta here! LOL

J/K, I'll miss him but I seriously look forward to having time for my wife and friends again instead of car pooling around a group of JROTC Cadets all the time! lol
 
Thanks...someone did tell me; of course, I felt rather silly, since I'd been on there many times over the past year--but mainly when DS was researching 'back up' plans...I think once he got his appt. to USMA, everything else became a blur...this site has been so helpful, I forgot any other resources existed!

Mom1655
 
Mom1655 said:
Oh my gosh! There's another source of info and advice I didn't know about?! Eek! And I've been trying sooo hard to gather every single piece of info that's out there--

What/where is 'CC'?
Click to expand...

CollegeConfidential, which has a forum section, accessible at talk.collegeconfidential.com
 
I would echo the writing letters. My father wrote me every single day -- every single one. I only wish I'd saved all of those letters as now he is gone. He wrote about the mundane -- his day in the yard, what the dog was doing, what the neighbors were doing. He provided advice. He was always upbeat but no false cheer. And, he wrote, every single day. Did I say every one????

My mother wasn't a writer but she would send me newspaper clippings of interest. Mostly stuff from the local papers or just something she thought I would enjoy. News from home -- especially the "stupid" stuff -- is mightily interesting from afar.

Care packages prob depend on the SA and the given policy at the time. In my day, food and almost anything else other than a radio was ok. No one looked at your packages. But that was then and this is now. Parents clubs should have this info or it will be o/w available. Never fear, your plebe will have everything he/she needs, if not necessarily everything he/she wants.
 
Would like to know some opinions out there about future cadets knowing maybe a little too much about what happens at Beast. Would love to have son read some of these books, but then again, I feel that Beast should be experienced personally without any knowledge about what to expect. Is it comforting to know some of what Beast is like ? Or is it best to go into it with a clear mind?
 
My son (he has accepted his appointment to USNA) is avoiding these forums. He says he knows Plebe Summer, and the 4 years that follow, is going to be a challenge and he will find out everything else he needs to know when he needs to know it, i.e. when he's there. Right now he's focusing on the last few weeks at school, his sport, and friends and family.
 
It is so hard right now - my son is playing on his high school baseball team, trying to finish strong in his classes and "enjoy" being a senior while getting up and running every morning at 5:30 to prepare for Plebe Summer. I wish he could just relax some and enjoy it all before I-Day.
 
buff81 - excellent point.

Kids who are just applying who are in high school and/or college and wondering if an SA is right for them may enjoy some of the books.
There is no need appointees to read all the books.

If they will read all the information they get from their academies that will really suffice. They don't need to go to beast an expert - for one thing, like mom3boys said on another thread, it changes from year to year.
West point sends out excellent information and a video so they will know what to expect.
Do not make your cadet candidate memorize what he/she must say when stepping up to the red line. They probably won't remember anyway :wink:

Save the books for Mom and Dad to read at the beach over the summer while Junior is slogging through beast! :smile:
 
Having gone through the experience just this year it took a little bit to get used to...Our situation was compounded by being empty nesters to boot. Get involved in the Parent's Club in your area. They are a wealth of information and will be helpful when it comes down the who, what, when and where. Firstie parents will adopt you ...let them. You will be searching for your "Wanda or Waldo" in countless photos. On R day you will cry with Moms and Dads and see the same glazed look in their eyes as they see in yours. Everyone understands.
We didn't use the form letters and I would encourage providing SASE's instead (besides the USMA stationary is pretty cool). They will find the time to write and if they don't it is ok...they are being taken care of. We did use a combination of cards, comics, jokes and inspirational quotes. I hope they helped (I think they did because he kept everyone one of them as we did with his replies). You will be given a Parent's Handbook...follow it to the hilt. What they bring will have to be carried with alot of other gear so don't over pack. Have your child prep for the APFT and make sure they run (with hills and heat). Finally be prepared for having a big new family. You will be amazed of the acts of kindness that will be shown to you by other Academy families...they will help you through it. Some family and friends will not understand but keep in mind your life just changed in a major way. If you have other children give them a hug and tell them you love them too, they are part of this as well. Some people will give you the line "you are lucky, you don't have to pay tuition" when they don't realize they the potential price is far greater than anything measured by dollars and cents. We found the best reply is a smile. Tell your child do their best and if they can't see making it through CBT/BCT then focus on making it to the next week, day, hour or minute. They will make it through...and so will you.
 
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