Some People Just Don't Get It

Brawny77

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2015
Messages
370
I have heard of plan B school's pitching a fit when they are rejected by kids who are accepting appointments but here is a true story that happened to my DS a year ago. Try to read to the end because there is a silver lining, happy ending twist at the end.

My DS worked at a summer camp for the summers after soph. and jr. years in high school. He applied to work there again in case he didn't get into an S.A. They offered him the job. When he accepted the job (in December), he even included the caveat that he was applying to S.A.'s and if he got in he would of course be unavailable. Well he got in. He emailed the camp personnel director to tell him he had gotten an appointment and even asked if he could work an earlier session because he had to report to I-day on June 30.
The guy send him back a scathing rebuke. Here is a bit of it:

"I am not saying going to the naval academy is a bad thing, nor am I saying that camp is more important in the grand scheme of things. I am saying this was a character and maturity revealing situation. This all could have been avoided with a little forethought as to what your word means. "

He completely ignored the fact that he had been informed that this might occur. He seemed to think that my son's agreement to work a July session of camp for a $600 salary should come before a 400K education and career serving his country. And he was told of this possibility from the get go.......sheeesh

End note- My son, to his credit, drove 4 hours to this camp to talk this out with them. The big boss of the camp had military experience and was way more understanding. They all parted friends.
Final end note- While making this visit he stopped by the ropes course to see some of his old buddies. Met a new girl counselor who he hit it off with. She wrote him all through plebe summer and is now his girlfriend and she is fantastic....funny how things sometimes work out.
 
"I am not saying going to the naval academy is a bad thing"

Honestly, this says it all. He isnt going to say its a bad thing, but he isnt going to say it is a good thing either. Your son gave him warning but even if he had not, it wasnt like your son was skipping work because he wanted to go fishing or water skying during the summer. This is a life changing experience that he earned and was given to him. The director needed to put things in perspective. I understand that he was upset that he lost a camp couselor but he needs to look a the big picture. There would have been plenty of people who wouldnt have even notified the camp
 
So many people have no idea of what these kids go through even to apply to a S.A.
My DS applied to USNA, USAFA and USMA. After all that huge undertaking he was applying to a "regular" college. It took 15 minutes! He sat there saying "that's it?" Lol
 
Impressed by his character that he would go out of his way to still try to make thing right with someone who does not get the big picture for your son. That is what I admire most about these midshipmen that I meet through my DD class of 2019.
On a side note, today is I day and it is beautiful in Annapolis....high of 79 with surprisingly not much humidity....although it will eventually get up there!
 
My son, to his credit, drove 4 hours to this camp to talk this out with them. The big boss of the camp had military experience and was way more understanding. They all parted friends.

Great story and this sentence is the most important to me. In my years in business (and life), communication and a willingness to talk things through is an extremely important tool in the toolbag and unfortunately most people (even very successful ones) don't have it.
 
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