Alert: most of you who recognize my handle have heard me say most of this before. Feel free to jump ahead.
Newbies, continue reading please. shake:
Why would someone want to attend KP? A rhetorical question posed earlier that got me thinking.
The year and half at KP have proven to be the most interesting College experience I can imagine for DS. Including any "normal" college as we have a son there too. Yes he too is having a good time but it is nowhere near as interesting. I also will lump ( oohh dangerous territory here) the full on military academy or Ivy covered campus. Each offer the best of the best in thier mission. KP gives a bit of both. KP is full of extraordinary opportunities for all of their students. The waterfront alone is an experience most who attend KP would never in a million years have the oppotunity to know. The vast array of sailing opportunites in a second to none facility. I mean it, second to none. I do not know much about all the teams but Offshore and Power Squadren offer opportunites to some without much previous experience thankfully. Willingness to learn and dedication to hard work seem to be almost as important as past experience. Wow! DS understands his amazing good fortune in this regard. The state of the art vessels and world class instructors in one place are mind boggling. The athletic teams are another shining example of being able to make a difference for your team without being an olympian or future pro athlete. A small school like KP offers the chance to truely be a part of a great team. Other DS goes to Indiana University. It is great fit for him. it is a huge campus, tens of thousands of students, number one ranked basketball team ( until last weekend loss to hometown Butler Bulldogs that is- Yeah yeah, congrats Aooga - trader
but unless you are possibly on the way to the NBA you are in the stands cheering or selling your season tickets for big bucks. KP's swim team is capable of beating Div ll teams and I beleive has even beaten a Div l team who didn't give them enough respect and swam off ( meaning not their usual line up)- HA- bet they don't do that again! Last year a 15 female was named Div lll athlete of the year in basketball I believe. Many sporting clubs abound as well. A curriculum that includes firefighting, meteorology, Cellestial navigation.....interesting classes to say the least. Learning all things maritime ( knowing some tweeking of the curriculum is needed ie DP- you guys teach me so much). How many college students graduate with BS degrees, and are licensed professionals capable of making more than their parents in their first year out of a four year school? The leadership training the the regiment ( also a hot topic of debate but speaking in general terms) offers and the ability to learn disipiline only just short of active duty or one of the other one service academy sources. Please note I am in no way saying KP is better than ANY of the other academies in any way. My respect for them is unwavering. ( insert flag waving here)
The uniform! Okay really superficial here but still really gives a source of pride. I notice whenever I see DS in uniform he stands a little taller and has sort of a humble swagger if you will. At any rate he feels proud and wants to act in a way that honors the uniform and what it stands for. Not to mention NYC being your place to hang once in a while, in uniform. An attention magnet for sure in one of the coolest cities on the planet.
Did I mention waterfront campus with a western sunset view of Manhattan? How about an education there is absolutely no way we as a family could afford? The maritime industry in general terms, an ever changing, necessary, honorable, interesting, varied, possibly very lucrative, profession that is suited to those who want something different in life. The prestige of a service academy. Again with the shallow end here but I know for a fact it is important to DS to be at a place he is very proud to claim. During the midst of personal and academy related turmoil last year he questioned that belief only briefly. Overall he couldn't be more proud to be at KP. Sea year. An oppotunity second to none I am aware of for specific skill building, traveling the world ( even if port time is limited to several hours if any sometimes) a break from their normal regimented life. A time to let their hair grow, literely
I have seen pictures of DS in two separate eateries in two different countries just this week. KP is for adventure seekers with side of wanderlust.
The people they meet are fascinating and offer a world of experience and advice along with an opportunity to see up close a perfessional working in this field. Talk about an awesome work and abroad program. And....they get paid for this. An alumni that is said to be a powerful and close knit community. There are dozens of reason to choose KP.