COVID-19: Candidate's Perspective

HowBoutThemApples

HowBoutThemApples

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Nov 15, 2019
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With worries about the outbreak spreading, all operations in New York are falling apart, and I imagine the same is going on around the United States and the rest of the world. Restaurants must close at 8, School is cancelled until April 1st and online schooling will be in use, for the next 8 weeks all gatherings of 50+ people have been prompted by the state to cancel. My track season is slowly going away. Prom has been cancelled. Leadership selection for my JROTC brigade may not happen. AP exams' testing are under scrutiny by state legislature and the college board. NASS may be cancelled, and Boy's State could go down the drain as well.

While these problems are in fact, in the big picture, trifling, as compared to the serious threat that this virus imposes(which I still think is rather insignificant in comparison to the hysteria and steps taken to combat this), they do affect me in a very large way, being my path to getting an appointment. With the SAT's being cancelled, this takes away from 2 of my 5 opportunities to take the test. Our leadership selection process at my school is very meticulous and thought-out, and the "trials" we must go through start in late March. This school cancellation could hurt my chance of getting the position I hope for(Battalion Commander), affecting my chances at an appointment. Arguably most importantly, track being cancelled. Track is a sport of times. This spring season is my last shot to get a fast enough time to be recruited by the coaches at the SA's, and I may have no shot at all to run a race this Spring.

While you may be reading this and rolling your eyes, or curious as to "what's the point?", I'm not venting. I'm here to let other candidates in a similar situation that I'm struggling too. Be proactive. Take this time to work on your grades and study with the given time. Train hard. If you run like me, organize a pop-up meet with your peers and competitors to get a good time. Work out every day, work on your CFA. Think about why you want to go to the Service Academies. Do what others are not. I'm planning on making an organization that will collect donations for families that rely on public school's meal plans. Just keep your head up and take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you.

Last but certainly not least, pray for your families. Our grandparents and older relatives are very susceptible to this disease.

If you want to use this thread to talk about your situation, or just discuss how your dealing with this new dynamic, go right ahead!

Cheers,

Sean17
 
Same thing here. School cancelled, sports cancelled, all other activities cancelled until further notice. I basically have three weeks of nothing, being spent on SAT prep, CFA prep, and the AP chem test lol... I’m definitely sad about tennis season probably being cancelled, but at least every other Junior is basically in the same situation I am. Can’t dwell on it.
 
Sean,

Sorry to hear you're on the struggle bus. I am too! As a reapplicant, I don't have the issue of sports and AP exams on the line, but with the coronavirus becoming more and more prevalent, I am afraid it will have a negative impact on admissions and the medical waiver I am waiting on. I am of course trying to remain positive and hopeful and working on myself and everything I have control over in the meantime, but the waiting is truly painstaking and I appreciate this thread for its positive vibes and encouragement.

We all just gotta keep our heads up and get through this together. Best of luck!
 
Y’all, no eye rolling here. I’m a mom of a senior. A candidate. Watching his senior year crumble through his fingers. It’s supposed to be fantastic. He was set to place at state. Set a school record. No more chances now.

I’m sad myself. My heart brakes for you all!!! And my own. I’ll selfishly miss many of his special moments as they are getting cancelled daily.

I read somewhere to journal your feelings. This is your generations 9/11. People someday will want to know how you FELT. How this affected you. Your life. This will be a defining moment in history...before COVID-19 and after COVID-19.

You are part of history. Take some time to record your feelings so you can share them someday. 96642E05-EC1E-4A89-ADC0-AB847D24CC52.jpeg
 
When my kids were in high school, we had 9/11, the anthrax attacks, and the DC sniper was killing people all around the area. They told us to run in a zig zag pattern. We had games at an alternate location. We got back in our cars when filling the gas tank.

This is much worse. Lots will be lost in these next few weeks to months. Sux for sure.
 
Found out I was pregnant with DD shortly after 9/11. Dh was deployed in Saudi Arabia and he found out via email. I shared that meme with DD earlier. Weird thinking about passing the baton to the next generation.
 
One day around the table my youngest brought something up. That he sees my emotion (tears, sadness) when we talk about 9/11. He said that he isn’t connected to it emotionally. Yes it’s sad, but it’s ‘history’ for him. Something he studies. Not FEELS.

THIS will emote for him. His kids will study it. He will FEEL it. It’s this generations 9/11.
 
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I am also a candidate for 2025. I relate to how @Sean17 is feeling so badly it hurts. It is interesting how I'm in Texas, so far away from New York, yet we are experiencing the same things. Just 2 weeks ago, I thought I had the rest of my junior year and summer planned out. My ALA Unit had told me they had mailed my registration forms for Girls State. I was so pumped that I was accepted into SLE Session 1. I was going to take the SAT on March 14th for a better essay and reading score. I was going to run to be an officer for National Honor Society. I was training for my CFA at the gym everyday. I was so stressed that I had so many AP tests to study for.

Now, I'm unsure if I will get to do any of them. That will undoubtedly hurt my application to West Point. Of course, I won't fall behind in my classwork or skimp out on training at home in my living room during these weeks. But I really wanted to attend SLE and Girls State. The only thing I have left now is to hope that maybe in these 2 and a half months things will turn out OK and that they won't be cancelled.
 
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When the sea rises all boats rise, when the sea falls all boats fall with it. We are living in unique times, i feel like this itself is a test for our generation and a unique opportunity for us to prove our strength and creativity. I respect your overall optimism and oppertunity seeking attitude.
 
Another perspective is that those who may miss out on summer leadership opportunities and programs now have a sense of what some of their less fortunate peers may experience during a period of normality - insufficient family funds to support clubs/Scouts/enrichment programs/social events/travel, family problems of all kinds, the need to care for younger siblings after school hours, the need to work to contribute to basic family needs and not their own discretionary spending, uncertainty as to healthcare and housing, and generally living on the edge of making or breaking it.

Spare a thought too for those whose families are directly and powerfully impacted by loss of income from cancelled contracts, loss of tip income for those in the hospitality industry, the impact of staying home because schools are closed if the parent is the sole wage-earner and cannot telework, and countless others who are suddenly feeling the ground shift underneath them.

I have a secure roof over my head, sufficient food, solid finances, reliable healthcare, strong family and social support. Many do not, and I remind myself not to get too twisted up over missed weddings, a long-planned special vacation, loss of a lucrative new contractor gig, missing other key life events.

I fully recognize this is one crappy way to wrap up a senior year in HS, with a parallel experience for parents who had looked forward to milestones, recognition, celebration. I fully recognize this is crappy for HS juniors who are mired in uncertainty for what this means for their SA and college campaigns.

Draw together in other ways, try for perspective, look outside your own situation, be grateful for what you do have and find grace in keeping an eye out for your peers who may be struggling with basic issues of family stability. Not “look what’s happening to me” but “how are others doing and can I help them in any way.” That is a core leadership value.
 
Capt MJ said:
Another perspective is that those who may miss out on summer leadership opportunities and programs now have a sense of what some of their less fortunate peers may experience during a period of normality - insufficient family funds to support clubs/Scouts/enrichment programs/social events/travel, family problems of all kinds, the need to care for younger siblings after school hours, the need to work to contribute to basic family needs and not their own discretionary spending, uncertainty as to healthcare and housing, and generally living on the edge of making or breaking it.

Spare a thought too for those whose families are directly and powerfully impacted by loss of income from cancelled contracts, loss of tip income for those in the hospitality industry, the impact of staying home because schools are closed if the parent is the sole wage-earner and cannot telework, and countless others who are suddenly feeling the ground shift underneath them.

I have a secure roof over my head, sufficient food, solid finances, reliable healthcare, strong family and social support. Many do not, and I remind myself not to get too twisted up over missed weddings, a long-planned special vacation, loss of a lucrative new contractor gig, missing other key life events.

I fully recognize this is one crappy way to wrap up a senior year in HS, with a parallel experience for parents who had looked forward to milestones, recognition, celebration. I fully recognize this is crappy for HS juniors who are mired in uncertainty for what this means for their SA and college campaigns.

Draw together in other ways, try for perspective, look outside your own situation, be grateful for what you do have and find grace in keeping an eye out for your peers who may be struggling with basic issues of family stability. Not “look what’s happening to me” but “how are others doing and can I help them in any way.” That is a core leadership value.
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Absolutely ❤️🇺🇸Very well stated.
 
It is very difficult to deal with missing AP curriculum, Internship, Boys State, Sport events; though I know others are going through similar struggles. I am thankful that I am healthy and I hope it wont drag down my application below the appointment threshold.
 
Matyas said:
It is very difficult to deal with missing AP curriculum, Internship, Boys State, Sport events; though I know others are going through similar struggles. I am thankful that I am healthy and I hope it wont drag down my application below the appointment threshold.
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Everyone will be in the same boat.
 
Thanks for your post and advice to everyone - good stuff! A few thoughts:

- Most people will have similar hurdles with fewer tests to attend, lack of this spring sports season, etc - so the Whole Candidate Scores will be normalized based on that
- Use this slower time to do things that will help your score. Work out and practice the CFA - and get a better score. Practice more for the ACT/SAT, incl. virtual tutoring. Increase your Leadership section score by thinking of possible community services you can create and lead (just heard of someone starting a shopping/delivery outreach for the elderly!). Finish your files for Admissions/Nominations. Apply to other Academies/ROTC. Help your parents with stuff (as a parent, I just had to toss that one in! :))

Stay positive and keep working hard to achieve your goals!
 
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