usma23apache
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2017
- Messages
- 39
I remember vividly the moment I received the call from my congressman's office saying that I had been appointed to West Point. I was sitting in math class and ran out of the room overjoyed, immediately calling my parents. In that moment I was the happiest kid in the world. West Point had been my dream school for essentially my whole life. I loved going to football games with my Dad growing up, and seeing all of the clean cut cadets marching on the plain. Every time I would visit I envisioned myself wearing the gray uniform. I excitedly awaited the day my official letter would arrive in the mail so I could declare to the world that I'd be going to West Point.
Flash forward to August 1st. I get pulled off the range and sent in a humvee back to the barracks. A few hours later, I'm sitting alone in my room and my TAC officer shows up. He tries to convince me to stay. I sign the paper anyway. There was not a single person in this world who could've made me stay at West Point last summer. I was having an absolutely miserable time at beast. The letters I wrote home expressed that, and I don't think I'll be able to read those for another 20 years. My roommate had been snoring like a steam engine, the food was making me constipated, and the sound of cadre and 5am everyday made me want to die. Mentally I was not in a good place. I was having bad thoughts about hurting myself. There were emotions I had never felt before.
I knew that leaving would disappoint my family, friends, coaches and teachers. Although many don't express it, I know my decision came as a disappointment to some of the closest people in my life. I felt like **** for taking another kid's spot at USMA. However, I was happy to be out of what I now see I was scared to face. I realized once I showed up that I had made a mistake. I wanted to be a free college student, and didn't like the constant military environment of West Point. They say hindsight is 20/20, and if I'm being honest, I think I was scared for what was to come. I thought my life outside of west point was over forever, and I couldn't stomach that idea, which for some reason had been in my head.
Flash forward to the Army Navy game this year. I was sad that I wasn't there. I had pictured myself being there for essentially my entire life, and I realized I had given up any chance of going there for good now. Obviously it's more than just the Army Navy game, but that's one example. I will say that I am incredibly happy where I am in my life now. I am at an excellent institution and have met some great people there, and will hopefully be going to medical school when I graduate. I will say though, there's just something about the friendships at West Point that had I stayed, I think those guys would've been the best friends I've ever had.
So to anybody who receives an appointment. Think long and hard about it before accepting. And if you want to quit during beast, I promise you, you're not in the right mental state to do so. Stick it out and wait a semester. I probably would've still left, but who knows....sometimes it's the people that can make you stay.
I know it's early still, but best of luck to all you new cadets. Feel free to ask me anything.
Flash forward to August 1st. I get pulled off the range and sent in a humvee back to the barracks. A few hours later, I'm sitting alone in my room and my TAC officer shows up. He tries to convince me to stay. I sign the paper anyway. There was not a single person in this world who could've made me stay at West Point last summer. I was having an absolutely miserable time at beast. The letters I wrote home expressed that, and I don't think I'll be able to read those for another 20 years. My roommate had been snoring like a steam engine, the food was making me constipated, and the sound of cadre and 5am everyday made me want to die. Mentally I was not in a good place. I was having bad thoughts about hurting myself. There were emotions I had never felt before.
I knew that leaving would disappoint my family, friends, coaches and teachers. Although many don't express it, I know my decision came as a disappointment to some of the closest people in my life. I felt like **** for taking another kid's spot at USMA. However, I was happy to be out of what I now see I was scared to face. I realized once I showed up that I had made a mistake. I wanted to be a free college student, and didn't like the constant military environment of West Point. They say hindsight is 20/20, and if I'm being honest, I think I was scared for what was to come. I thought my life outside of west point was over forever, and I couldn't stomach that idea, which for some reason had been in my head.
Flash forward to the Army Navy game this year. I was sad that I wasn't there. I had pictured myself being there for essentially my entire life, and I realized I had given up any chance of going there for good now. Obviously it's more than just the Army Navy game, but that's one example. I will say that I am incredibly happy where I am in my life now. I am at an excellent institution and have met some great people there, and will hopefully be going to medical school when I graduate. I will say though, there's just something about the friendships at West Point that had I stayed, I think those guys would've been the best friends I've ever had.
So to anybody who receives an appointment. Think long and hard about it before accepting. And if you want to quit during beast, I promise you, you're not in the right mental state to do so. Stick it out and wait a semester. I probably would've still left, but who knows....sometimes it's the people that can make you stay.
I know it's early still, but best of luck to all you new cadets. Feel free to ask me anything.
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