cadette2023
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2020
- Messages
- 5
In no way does this reflect the opinions of the United States Military Academy as a whole. This is just the perspective of one person.
To describe West Point, would be the equivalent of attempting to describe a bustling city. Erratically chaotic is perhaps the most accurate description. The combined effects of sleep deprivation, and cynicism breeds wild and erratic behavior. It is a place where sprinting cadets across “campus” is accepted and mostly ignored. It is a place where, when an important person comes to visit and presents a speech at lunch, they are hailed with raised condiments, pitchers of water, and chairs held above the heads of cadets. It is a place where laundry carts provide vehicles to race in and spurs are spun on statues. These activities, of course, are not deemed as fun. They simply are. Odd tradition is ingrained into the constant pace and flow, constant yet changing. There is always something new at West Point. It is a bubble from the outside world, where the politics of leadership are practiced and a mix between the military and college life balanced.
If you choose to come to West Point,
You will be miserable at times.
You will be sleep deprived.
You will never be viewed as a college kid or as actually in the military.
You will be expected to be THE example for others.
You will be surrounded by some of the best and most hardworking people.
You will forge bonds with your team and company mates.
You will have some of the most experienced instructors possible.
West Point attracts service oriented, ambitious, and highly insecure people. The vast majority of cadets are always striving to better themselves in some capacity, unsatisfied with performance in academics, physical, and/or military spheres. If you are content with the status quo, then perhaps look elsewhere. Cadets are an odd mix of highly insecure and never content with what they have done, and confident in themselves. This juxtaposition creates a culture that praises work ethic and grit. This culture produces both excellent officers and bad officers. West Point itself does not create leadership, it instead provides a space for leaders to develop themselves. They hand the tools to you, however, if you refuse to take the opportunities they will pass you by.
You have to want it.
To describe West Point, would be the equivalent of attempting to describe a bustling city. Erratically chaotic is perhaps the most accurate description. The combined effects of sleep deprivation, and cynicism breeds wild and erratic behavior. It is a place where sprinting cadets across “campus” is accepted and mostly ignored. It is a place where, when an important person comes to visit and presents a speech at lunch, they are hailed with raised condiments, pitchers of water, and chairs held above the heads of cadets. It is a place where laundry carts provide vehicles to race in and spurs are spun on statues. These activities, of course, are not deemed as fun. They simply are. Odd tradition is ingrained into the constant pace and flow, constant yet changing. There is always something new at West Point. It is a bubble from the outside world, where the politics of leadership are practiced and a mix between the military and college life balanced.
If you choose to come to West Point,
You will be miserable at times.
You will be sleep deprived.
You will never be viewed as a college kid or as actually in the military.
You will be expected to be THE example for others.
You will be surrounded by some of the best and most hardworking people.
You will forge bonds with your team and company mates.
You will have some of the most experienced instructors possible.
West Point attracts service oriented, ambitious, and highly insecure people. The vast majority of cadets are always striving to better themselves in some capacity, unsatisfied with performance in academics, physical, and/or military spheres. If you are content with the status quo, then perhaps look elsewhere. Cadets are an odd mix of highly insecure and never content with what they have done, and confident in themselves. This juxtaposition creates a culture that praises work ethic and grit. This culture produces both excellent officers and bad officers. West Point itself does not create leadership, it instead provides a space for leaders to develop themselves. They hand the tools to you, however, if you refuse to take the opportunities they will pass you by.
You have to want it.
