cadet blogs

Enjoy Your High School Experience

(Choosing the Coast Guard Academy, Class of 2013) Permanent link All Posts

I imagine that the majority of visitors frequenting our cadet blogs are juniors and seniors, eager to leave high school behind and move on to bigger and better things. Speaking to you as a sophomore in college who was in your shoes not too long ago, I understand your enthusiasm to move on and tackle the challenge that lies ahead. However, I strongly encourage you to enjoy the time you have now, in high school, living in your hometown, surrounded by friends and family. It’s only natural to think about what lies ahead, but don’t wish away the time you have left as a high school kid. You’ll never get this time back.

Please don’t misconstrue my reminder to “Enjoy high school while you can” to mean, “Enjoy high school and have fun while you can, because you won’t enjoy your time at the Academy”. That couldn’t be farther from the point I’m trying to make. Since reporting here in June of 2009, I’ve made some of the most incredible memories of my life, and I’ve met people that will become my life-long friends. My graduation from high school came and went. I enjoyed the few weeks I had in June, anxiously watching the calendar creep closer and closer to Reporting-In Day. From the instant I said goodbye to my parents on that morning, I was thrust into an environment I had never encountered before. Every single one of my actions was immediately held to a higher standard. As our cadre told us, “Do not just meet the standard. Exceed it and set the new standard.” I was no longer responsible for just myself, and much was expected of all of us.

In the span of maybe three weeks, I went from a carefree eighteen-year-old high school student to a member of the United States Coast Guard, pushing myself through the grueling training and indoctrination process. This is why I encourage you to enjoy every last moment of high school that you can, because before you know it, you won’t be doing the same thing as all your friends back home. You’ll be given real responsibility, and you’ll be expected to perform under pressure. In just over a year, I’ve already been in the cockpit of the HU-25 Falcon at 20,000 feet, and I’ve helped navigate Coast Guard Cutter Eagle through the Caribbean. I’m extremely blessed to have already had the opportunity to experience these things, and I wouldn’t trade being a cadet for anything!

Embrace what lies ahead, but live in the moment and enjoy the time you have! Thank you for your time and God Bless.

More about Jake.

Last Edited by Leann Strickland at 2/14/2012 11:25 AM