cadet blogs

8th Semester

(Just for Fun, Class of 2012) Permanent link All Posts

Hello Shipmates! It’s that time of year again, when the Academy awakens from its winter break slumber and is re-energized by the return of the Corps. An ocean of smiling cadets, eager to continue in professional leadership development, once again pulsates through the arteries of Chase Hall. The two-and-a-half week winter leave is longer than any cadet wants to be away from the Academy, but it is a good way for every cadet to reflect upon all that they have accomplished so far, and provides each of us a chance to recharge his or her batteries in preparation for the next semester.

As I’m sure you all know by now, this will be (assuming I continue dodging bullets) my last semester at the Academy. These are truly exciting times, and although I loved my time here at the Academy, I cannot wait to get out into the “real” Coast Guard and make a difference in people’s lives. I will talk more about what I intend to do after I graduate in later blogs, don’t you worry, but right now I would like to take the time to tell you a little bit about my leave and what it was like coming back to the Academy.

My first night home (the night of my last final), I went with a friend from high school to our local bowling alley. It was the first time either of us had been there in a while, at least since before we were twenty-one years old, and it was by far the most fun we’ve ever had there. We didn’t go to bowl right away though, we wanted to warm up a little (it’s called injury avoidance), so we first spent some time in the lounge, ordered sixteen sliders and played billiards (I won of course). It was so long ago, I don’t remember the actual bowling score, but I remember I won (of course).

Ah Christmas! My favorite Judeo/Christian holiday! What better way to celebrate the birth of Sir Isaac Newton, than watching football and giving your loved ones a scarf or shawl every year.

Best Christmas Present: Electric Toothbrush (hands down)
Worst Christmas Present: Kindle Fire (Great idea…let’s make reading more convenient)
Best Present I opened that was mislabeled and not actually for me: $70 leather gloves
Most Random Present: Seeing my ex-girlfriend for the first time in over two years
Most Awkward Present: *see above*

New Years Eve: the second most depressing holiday to be single for. I went to a party at my friend’s house, well, I’m only really friends with him on New Year’s Eve when he throws a party. This year I really valued his friendship, because this was definitely one of his best parties yet. It was a great ratio, lots of girls, many of them still in high school, which provided me the opportunity to help them decide on colleges and what kind of educations they were looking to pursue. I obviously recommended they all attend the United States Coast Guard Academy, but unfortunately they didn’t all seem to have the grades to get in first try (Community College is a good education too).

My favorite day of leave was obviously the day I was allowed to return to school. I was so excited I could barely sleep the night before. Now that I'm a senior, I can drive myself back instead of waiting for my parents. This means I can leave as early as I want. The sooner I can get back to see my shipmates' smiling faces the better.

Fun fact: I have a three foot tall cactus named Cactus.

More about Bo.

Last Edited by Leann Strickland at 4/3/2012 11:43 AM