cadet blogs

The Dark Ages

(The Cadet Experience, Class of 2015) Permanent link All Posts

Getting back into the rhythm of things, getting ready for our first round of exams, and studying for boards; life is good. I knew coming back from this place would not be on my “yay” list, but once you’re back into the swing of things, it really isn’t too bad. Yes, I miss normalcy, like eating without bracing up, not having to square all around Chase Hall, and screaming for ten minutes staring at a clock before breakfast and lunch. I also miss the garbage man that most people take for granted. All we have to do to get our carry on and to stop having to do all those annoying little tasks is to pass the Boards indoctrination test. It is a ten question, oral exam that is very formal. You have to get an 8 or better to pass and the whole class must pass before we get our privileges. In the past, boards was in February, at the latest March, but now our week of Boards in the second week of April! It is nice because you don’t have to worry about it for a while, but it is not so nice because that is right before finals and we have to be getting ready for those as well as preparing for boards. It also means we cannot get any privileges until the last week of school. We will see how well the new plan works out.

All the upper class call these winter months the “dark ages” and warned us about its effects. I didn’t believe the side effects of the sun setting abnormally early and not rising until mid day. But yes, the sky gets darker and moral gets lower around here. It is much harder to stay positive and to forget all the negativity and stay to your course of finishing 4/c year strong. I would say, no matter the time of year, that staying positive is the hardest thing, but it is also the biggest key to success. If you can see the light at the end of the tunnel or if you can be the light yourself, it not only makes your life better, but it helps out your shipmates to do the same. 40 days to go until spring break! That’s one thing to be positive about.

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Posted by Leann Strickland at 2/16/2012 3:56 PM