Failure

C/B Lattanzio

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
99
The more and more I think about it, the more afraid I become.
I'm trying my hardest to become a Officer for the military.
As we all know there are many hurdles to cross for this goal as with any, for me my main problem is: 'eh' (average) grades.

Just a question for other candidates who haven't gotten in to a SA but tried their hardest, how'd you deal with it?
 
Don'i Then....

If you're unsure of yourself...
If you doubt yourself...
Then don't.

Its not fair for you or those who maybe under your command and you're responsible for.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
The more and more I think about it, the more afraid I become.
I'm trying my hardest to become a Officer for the military.
As we all know there are many hurdles to cross for this goal as with any, for me my main problem is: 'eh' (average) grades.

Just a question for other candidates who haven't gotten in to a SA but tried their hardest, how'd you deal with it?
Im not accepted yet, and most of us have not. You just gotta have to have a faith in yourself. Believe in it that you will make it. Don't ever give up just cuz one aspect of you doesn't make up to par. You can make it up with your outstanding EC's and athletics. And test scores. Don't ever stop working out and preparing for the CFA.

SA's are looking for future officers, not some bookworms. Those people are for other private and ivy institutions.

If you are a well rounded guy, you will make it. Just try your best to be in great shape and leader of character at your school EC's/athletics.

You don't have to be a genius. If you dont make it in the end, there's always ROTC. Dont ever give up man.
 
The more and more I think about it, the more afraid I become.
I'm trying my hardest to become a Officer for the military.
As we all know there are many hurdles to cross for this goal as with any, for me my main problem is: 'eh' (average) grades.

Just a question for other candidates who haven't gotten in to a SA but tried their hardest, how'd you deal with it?

Many deal with it by going the ROTC route for their favored service.
 
Delete the words "failure" and "quit" from your vocabulary. Do whatever you have to do to get what you want. (obviously within reason). Kick, punch, scream, yell, push, shove, FIGHT to achieve your goals. The only person stopping you is yourself. You are entering a world where you are in constant competition with everyone around you all the time. How bad do you want it?
 
The more and more I think about it, the more afraid I become.
I'm trying my hardest to become a Officer for the military.
As we all know there are many hurdles to cross for this goal as with any, for me my main problem is: 'eh' (average) grades.

Just a question for other candidates who haven't gotten in to a SA but tried their hardest, how'd you deal with it?

It's early in the spring semester, so you have time to bring this year's grades up. Getting good grades in high school is mostly a matter of time management and study habits. This means setting priorities and avoiding distractions. These skills will become even more important in college.

Doing well in your junior year following mediocre grades in earlier years shows that you are gaining maturity. In fact, a discernible trend of improvement gives you a story to tell, even if your cumulative GPA is not strong.

Also, you have the opportunity to prepare for and do well in the standardized tests. Excelling in ACTs/SATs will go a long way toward countering a less than stellar GPA.

As Bull and others have said above, you need to resolve that you will succeed, then make it happen.
 
Just a question for other candidates who haven't gotten in to a SA but tried their hardest, how'd you deal with it?

Looked at everything that went in to my application, sorted them into the following categories:
-Things that were out of my control. For example, there was no way to go back in time to become a Boy Scout or apply for Boy's State.
-Things that were under my control that I knew I had done my best on. For me, I knew there wasn't much I could do to improve my SAT/ACT scores, community service hours, athletics, etc.
-Things that were in my control that I could improve. My high school GPA was not as high as it should have been, so I spent more time on homework and studying at prep school to get my grades up.

I found that breaking it down helped me channel my frustration into making myself better. I didn't really consider ROTC, so I can't speak to prepping for that vs. prepping for a SA
 
I don't like the "don't use those words" kind of answers (in general, not here, but anywhere and you see them often).

The truth is people do fail, leaders aren't always confident and some people quit.

So... that stuff happens. We've all seen it, and some of us have experienced it, whether we want to use the correct word for it or not.

So here's the plain truth from me. You can't WANT yourself in. You can't WILL yourself in. Don't wait for a miracle. Don't hope you're an "exception to the rule."

You WORK to get in. If you really want it, realize that means making sacrifices, some of which may be "less fun" or painful now. That's all you can really do. That's all you really have control over.

Some people try and STILL don't get in. That's not failure. That's just a fact of demand for admission and limited spots. It doesn't make you less of a person.

So TRY HARD. WORK. And hopefully in the end, that work brings good news. If it doesn't, you're still alive and you still have other options that COUNTLESS great military leaders had to consider before you.

Keep your head up! You aren't a failure.
 
I always ask this question of a candidate; whether it's in my role as an ALO or when I work for my Senator...

"Tell me a time when you FAILED..."

It's a tough question because, IMHO...

You only fail when you QUIT!

Give it your best effort, make every effort, take every risk, be smart, set the goal, never lose sight of the goal...

And you WILL achieve it. One way or the other...you will succeed.

I have letters of rejection from EVERY service academy dated 1978....I have letters of appointment to every SA except USCGA in 1979...I was an alternate there (they are TOUGH!).

My point is...set your sights high, never lose sight of your goal, and be willing do to whatever it takes!!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Really want to be an officer? Don't rule out enlisting first.

Kick ass doing that, and those grades matter a whole lot less. Or, you might just discover that service other than as a commissioned officer can be quite fulfilling.
 
Have a backup plan. It is not failure--just a different pathway! ROTC, enlistment, get a degree then join up. All are valid methods that will lead to the attainment of the same goal. Do one year in college and then re-apply if you do not get in this year. The pathway to success is filled with multiple failures.... It is what we do after we fail that defines us. Successful people rarely succeed on their first try!!! Good luck!! I hope you achieve your goals!
 
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