Morale boosters for the midshipmen

[cookiecafemom]

What would help the midshipmen to have the best atmosphere and most positive atmosphere at Kings Point? Moms and Dads of CURRENT MIDSHIPMEN (after asking your son/daughter), and MIDSHIPMEN THEMSELVES would be the best source for feedback. What are your ideas and suggestions?

This thread is for ideas that will help now. Can we brainstorm and come up with the best ideas to make KP the school that is the most loved school in USA??

[cmakin]

I don't know if KP should BE the "most loved" school in the USA. . . . .

[KPEngineer]

What do I love the most about KP ... The quality engineering education and great professional opportunities it has afforded me. Neither of which one appreciates while they are there.

Probably the best thing you can do for M/N is increase their interaction with alumni. Alumni will provide the dose of reality that what they are going through is the rule rather than the exception, and the honest picture of what life after graduation is like.

[Kram1]

I'm thinking that "Moms and Dads" need to stay out of it other than to support their Mids, attend parent day authorized events and athletic events at the Academy whenever they can, and donate to Kings Point (yes, $$$...not just your Mid).

KP has had over zealous parents and others trying this "let's do something to improve morale" thing and such can certainly get in the way of the Superintendent and others doing what they feel is best for the Mids to prepare them for the "life after Kings Point" period of "real world" adventures.

Am 100% certain this is all done with the very best of intentions, so no slams here...just think that our Mids are now trying to grow up and they need to handle things the best they can without undue outside influences from home.

Parents can have a great bit of influence on this "morale" thing by just being supportive parents and helping their Mids to be successful Midshipmen.

Yes, that may rub some parents the wrong way, but folks, I have 100% confidence in the fact that the Midshipmen of Kings Point CAN and will handle life at Kings Point. Seems each Mid that has come before them and graduated handled it well enough. Every member of every class I have talked to seems to have experienced some "morale" issues...mostly as a plebe. Imagine that?

Hang in there parents...you will be amazed how fast and well your Mid will grow up and mature...if you just allow him/her to do that. They will be fine...send cookies, send whatever comfort goodies you can as often as you can, and tell them that "this too shall pass"...they will be just fine. They are all exceptional young men and women or they would not be Kings Point Midshipmen.

If you simply cannot help yourself and must "do something" to save the morale at King Point, please for the love of all that's good and right, talk to the Superintendent's Office FIRST...they may just have an idea where there is a need a group of parents could fill.


Or, if your Mid plays a sport, contact the coach of that team and see what you might could do for the team on an away or home game day...but, go first to the coach....don't assume. Please and thank you.

[cmakin]

Because I was from the West Coast, my parents never came out to KP. To be honest, I really didn't want them to. This was the very first thing that I was doing on my own, and I had to deal with the good AND the bad; and that taught me some invaluable lessons. I came close to quitting KP twice. Once early on, just after Indoc, and then again toward the end of my second part of sea year (I really thought about just sailing at that point). I made the decision to finish. Glad I did. It wasn't easy, and I did not like it. I wasn't supposed to.

[Luigi59]

Originally Posted by cookiecafemom

What would help the midshipmen to have the best atmosphere and most positive atmosphere at Kings Point?

Splice the Mainbrace.

[cmakin]

Originally Posted by Luigi59

Splice the Mainbrace.

Exactly. . . .

[Lynpar]

That sent me to google. HA!
I learn so much here

[cmakin]

Originally Posted by Lynpar

That sent me to google. HA!
I learn so much here

The sun is over the yardarm. . . .

[beyond]

Improve morale? How about parents to stop posting doom and gloom all over the internet. They should about how terrible Kings Point is, that it is falling apart, how marad is out to screw everyone, and how the commandant has it out for their child and their child only.

It isn't true. None of it.

[I'm not saying the OPs post is an example of doom and gloom, I think it was an honest attempt to help. I was speaking in generalities, but based on the parents discussions you would think the second coming of Christ is hours away.]