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- Oct 21, 2010
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Just got off the phone with AROTC MS I DS. He called to express disappointment at not winning Cadet of the Semester, and therefore, having no shot at cadet of the year. He bemoaned the fact that the difference was that he did not address the cadets administering the test by their proper ranks.
Pre-ROTC DS would have stewed over this for hours, if not days. He would have made it his life's mission to fight this "injustice", with no regard for collateral damage, including to himself.
My happy story is that he only complained for about one minute, before saying that he is happy for the kid who won, because he is a really hard worker and they have a lot of respect for one another. (Translation: I'm smarter and run faster, but he deserves the award more than I because he earned it.) He is definitely benefitting from quality of those who surround him. This is a whole new thing for DW and me.
Along those same lines, he also asked if we could pick him up several days after dorm evacuation day because he wants to stay for the battalion's commissioning ceremony. He asked us to come so we can meet his cadre (if that is the right term).
He is definitely ready for school to end. He is tired of it, but said that ROTC has been the best part of his college experience. It sounded like it made the year bearable if not enjoyable. For him, 6:30 AM ruck marches and PT were a great counterpoint to the skull-hammering tedium of physics and organic chemistry. Nighttime land nav is fun. Writing mathematical proofs is not.
Bottomline, it has been a great year in ways that he doesn't yet even understand. He is discovering that the universe doesn't revolve around him...all the time.
I told myself I wouldn't do this but here it goes anyway. When DS went in for his Project Go physical, MD discovered a cyst which will be biopsied tomorrow. MD said she didn't like it. I told him not to read anything into that statement. It's her job to dislike all medical abnormalities. Haven't researched it, consulted MD friends or mentioned it to anyone. We'll wait for the test results. There is too much to be grateful for to kill the buzz worrying about things we can't control at this point.
Great tale CB. That first year of ROTC sure changes them. We've noticed similar things with our DS. Hope your's is A-OK on the medical front and that his Project GO adventure is a great success.