Clubs at USNA

FutureMarine07

FutureMarine07

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Sep 22, 2018
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Aimed towards current midshipmen or recent graduates, what clubs where/are you involved in? Which were notable? How many clubs could you be part of at once? How did clubs affect your workload?
 
My mid days the answer depends on your level of participation. Really tough to answer in the abstract. If you are president of a club, that may be all you can do. Also depends on one’s work ethic, etc. I’m not sure it’s the right way to be thinking about it.
 
+1 to @HopefulDad3210. Question is overly broad and abstract. Like anything at USNA, and in life, do the few things that mean the most to you. Quality over quantity.

My mid finds it challenging to fully participate in two clubs while playing a club sport and keeping up with academics and military obligations. She’d love to do more, but doesn’t want to just skim the experience either.
 
It’s a multi-variable equation that can be solved in a number of different ways, depending on what is most important to the mid while still graduating.

Some have the capacity, capability and drive to handle a varsity sport, time-intensive major, leadership positions, multiple ECAs including community service, a love life and end up high enough in the class to be part of the UK Scholars and head to Oxford or other immediate grad ed locations. Some have all they can do academically while participating in intramurals and singing in Chapel choir.

They are all ensigns and 2nd lieutenants near the end of May; they all figure out their personal equations that allowed them to throw their covers in the air.

The litmus test is academic performance. If the grades start to slide, time to manipulate variables ASAP.

Though my DH graduated in the last century, he is fond of saying he ensured he worked hard enough to be high enough in the class OOM to get his warfare community preference, enjoyed his varsity sport, and sang in the Glee Club for his mental outlet and travel opportunities, plus held in-company leadership positions. That was just right for him. Once he got to flight school, he turned on the after-burners and looked neither right nor left until he got jets, then fighters.

Mids figure it out, and there are plenty of eyes on plebes to ensure they have their priorities right. There will be plenty of briefs on all kinds of things and plenty of upper class to observe “working their equations.”
 
I was a varsity athlete and held in company leadership roles. Between those items and academics, I barely had enough time to turn around. I was was in Semper Fi Society, but really only attended meetings, lectures, and stuff like that. There wasn’t time to attend field events and things like on the weekends. Those were usually game days. It all depends on what you want to do, how involved you get and academics. If you have a decent handle on academics and do intramurals, you probably have more time for things. Some clubs like Glee Club take a lot more time than others.
 
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I was asking for personal experiences rather than a broad, "depends on the person," answer.
Here's a list of clubs:
Which ones did you guys enjoy?
 
NavyHoops said:
I was a varsity athlete and held in company leadership roles. Between those items and academics, I barely had enough time to turn around. I was was in Semper Fi Society, but really only attended meetings, lectures, and stuff like that. There wasn’t time to attend field events and things like on the weekends. Those were usually game days. It all depends on what you want to do, how involved you get and academics. If you have a decent handle on academics and do intramurals, you probably have more time for things. Some clubs like Glee Club take a lot more time than others.
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Also varsity athlete here - 2 seasons per year. I was also in one group that is now on the club list and that was it for me. I needed to sped a lot of time on my academics, especially the first couple of years and really did not have a lot of down time to fill. Thirty years later, my son started off in a major club/ECA but then transitioned to my former varsity sport and did just that except for being in the flyingclub for a year or two.
 
Humor noted. Pugil sticks. Just google “Marine pugil stick fights.”

Now back to the patient OP.

My DH and over 20 mids we sponsored have really enjoyed Glee Club. It does take an investment in time, for regular practice, Yard concerts, spring break concert trips (often overseas), football game anthems, other stuff. Tight friendships form there, and for most, the music is an enjoyable and necessary outlet. I think auditions are required; there are some amazing musical talents and voices at all the SAs.

We have also had several of our sponsor mids involved in Model UN. They really enjoyed the senior officers who participated each year, the knowledge they gained and the opportunity to be in leadership roles running the annual events.
 
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