How important is having a clean room in high school?

alexlocnj

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So I am starting to get ready to visit the academy, and my mom still won't let me because, and I quote, "My room is too messy, you'd be kicked out in the first week." I won't lie, my room is that of any other teenagers. I rarely make my bed, and there are some clothes on my floor. But my counter argument is that I there is nobody yelling at me if its dirty, and even my guidance counselor said that its something that I will pick up on in plebe summer. Do any parents have any advice for me in this situation?
 
Really, asking a group of parents a loaded question like this? ;)

Getting used to snapping out of bed in the morning and making sure everything is in it's place certainly not a bad thing. Your room certainly does not need to be inspection ready, but would it be worth a couple of minutes daily to make bed/pick up clothes just to reduce number of messy room comments from your loving mom and/or dad?

But, to be honest, my DS maintained a "typical" teenage room in high school and quickly adapted to academy standards. Good luck.
 
Echo the above. My son maintained a typical teenage room, but nothing crazy. You will figure it out.
If your mom is not sure, maybe start making your bed and keeping it somewhat tidy. That might help her believe. But it’s not a necessity!
 
Our son's room at USMA can only be described as squalor. Inspection-ready for SAMI's and when required, otherwise it looks just like the biohazard it does at home. I was very disappointed that the United States Army did not budge his filth-o-meter one inch. :(
 
The majority of Mids that enter USNA started out the same way. It is totally fine. You get on board quickly.
 
And remember...you will not have all your “junk” there.... rooms will be sparse at least 1st year....
 
@alexlocnj, my guess is that your nother’s resistance based on room cleanliness is masking another, and bigger, issue: She’s uncomfortable with you entering the military. That could be rooted in any number of concerns — some legitimate (“you could be killed”), some not (“the military isn’t for smart people who are good at school”). Read this forum long enough and you’ll see this isn’t unusual.

What do you know about your mother’s thoughts on joining the Navy? Have you had a heart-to-heart conversation about what it means to serve your country? Does she understand what it entails, good and bad? Do you understand why she might be resistant, founded or unfounded? It would behoove you to dig deeper with your mother and discover if “you don’t even clean your room” is just a veil for bigger issues.

That said, it wouldn’t kill you to pick up your room. Show her that you can be responsible, that you can do the little things, that you don’t need the wrath of Plebe Summer detailers to motivate you. (Reference Adm. McRaven at this point.) If you need to win your mother over, it could take an acccumulation of “little things” to convince her that you can handle military life.

To be clear, you don’t need your morher’s permission to enter USNA. At 18, as a legal adult, it’s solely your call. But USNA is a tough place to be, and the active-duty Navy even more so. Knowing you have her support — however guarded or grudging it may be — would be invaluable in that endeavor.
 
That said, it wouldn’t kill you to pick up your room. Show her that you can be responsible, that you can do the little things, that you don’t need the wrath of Plebe Summer detailers to motivate you. (Reference Adm. McRaven at this point.) If you need to win your mother over, it could take an acccumulation of “little things” to convince her that you can handle military life.

I agree with this. Show her you're not only capable of change, but willing to make changes to get this. If it's important enough to you to get your room cleaned up it can be important to her as well. And while we're on the subject, here's another idea: send her this thread and have her poke around the rest of the site to find stories of other parents who weren't totally on board when the process began. It's not an uncommon situation.
 
I think I’m an outlier mom here, but I honestly dont care what my kids’ rooms look like (I don’t allow food or tv/gaming systems in them). Not talking g dirt and filth here. I shut the door. If they want to have to pick through stuff on the floor to find their other shoe or belt? So be it. I require cleanliness (vacuum weekly, etc), but doesn’t bother me if it’s messy. I shut the door. That’s their space.

DS’s was messy. But I must admit he knew where everything was, and he would be sure and point that out when I would comment on the mess!

DS’s room is as neat and tidy and passing inspections like every other plebes at USNA.

Stay tuned to Thanksgiving as to whether he keeps his room at home tidy over break or not! But if he doesn’t, I don’t care [emoji51]‍♀️
 
My DS is at USAFA Prep this year. Once I learned he was officially accepted to Prep I had the deepest hearty SCARY laugh ever, DS said it was crazy. I smiled and said oh I am just loving that you are going to have room inspections regularly, oh my they are going to love you! He learned very quickly how to keep his room there and almost pass inspection until they (he and his roommate) learned not only was your closet, drawers, bed, desk, shelves, floor and windows need to be neat and perfect. Your smoke detector and air return that you cannot reach must also be dust free or you fail.

I will say that my DH and I defunked his room while he was going through basic military training, I found silverware and coffee cups in his drawers!!! My DH turned and said to me Oh I hope that boy is getting his *** chewed today. He told us later oh trust me, I did.. everyday! ;)

Now during Parents Weekend when I was allowed to see his room and see how PRISTINE it was and his drawers were outstanding, I was so PROUD. Now I think I may have him sleep in the living room when he is home for Thanksgiving just so I don't flip my lid when he leaves at how quickly he will have reverted back to his normal state of cleanliness :rolleyes:

Best of luck to you! Tell your mom that most of us parents noticed a HUGE change in our kids when we first got to see them, from when we dropped them off. It was definitely for the better.
 
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Having a clean room is like having a squared-away uniform, which is like showing up on time for formation . . . etc. It's a way of instilling order and discipline, which is essential for the military.

Some people make the military way their way for life, in and outside of the military. Others do what they need to do during their time in the military. Either is fine.
 
I’m looking forward to seeing my DS room back to normal when he returns on holidays, like someone has slept in it! As long as you don’t be that guy at home in front of your peers and Company Commanders to make everyone drop to give 20, you will be fine.
 
I find this thread AWESOME! My son is a typical messy teen. He went off to NASS and came back and the following weekend he voluntarily SCRUBBED his room and bathroom top to bottom. I figured that if if receives an appointment he will adapt. Until then I let him live in the mess. I pick my battles! I'm hoping he will come back from the USAFA Falcon Visitation Experience and be motivated to give his room another good cleaning. :)
 
I find this thread AWESOME! My son is a typical messy teen. He went off to NASS and came back and the following weekend he voluntarily SCRUBBED his room and bathroom top to bottom. I figured that if if receives an appointment he will adapt. Until then I let him live in the mess. I pick my battles! I'm hoping he will come back from the USAFA Falcon Visitation Experience and be motivated to give his room another good cleaning. :)
Ha! One of DS room mates at USMC TBS (first officer school for Marines) was an Annapolis grad. Sloppiest kid my son ever encountered, and if you knew my son that would be saying something. If 4 years couldn't do it I doubt the Falcon Visit Experience will do it.
 
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