Thanks, I appreciate that. I did start that AP club that I later became president of, should I note that in the remarks on the activities page? I bubbled in "club president," but it said nothing about starting it.
I've also just about finished all the paperwork. I brought some stuff down to school today for my teachers and my counselor to fill out. I'm working on revising my personal statement too. Maybe I should post that on here and you guys can tell me what you think?
Prompt: (1) Describe what led to your initial interest in the naval service and how the Naval Academy will help you achieve your long range goals, and (2) Describe a personal experience you have had which you feel has contributed to your own character development and integrity. (300-500 words)
Personal Statement
My initial interest in the naval service began as I watched the great heroics of sailors and Marines in recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the start of the new century, after the period of relative peace following the Cold War, the Navy and Marine Corps were called upon once again to protect civilization. The young men and women of the naval service answered the call brilliantly, and executed their mission exceptionally well, in a way that was deeply inspirational to me. Seeing Marines roll through the desert and Navy fighters drop their payloads over Baghdad filled me with considerable pride as an American, and made me want to become a part of the world’s finest naval force in order to serve my country. Soon after this, it became my goal in life to become an officer in the Marine Corps as my career, specializing in infantry or aviation. Attending the Naval Academy will help me achieve this long range goal in many ways. The education offered at the Academy, academically, physically, and morally, is second to none. I believe I would thrive in the structured military environment at the Naval Academy, and there would be no better way for me to begin my career as a naval officer than as a midshipman at the Naval Academy. I want to become the best officer I can, and I believe I can learn the professional and leadership skills necessary at the Naval Academy.
It is of paramount importance that naval officers possess strong character. A personal experience that has contributed to my own character development and integrity was my decision to begin to train physically on a daily basis in preparation for a career of military service. I have always been active and in good shape, but once I decided that I wanted an education at the Naval Academy and a career in the naval service, it became my goal to achieve an even higher level of fitness. I began working very hard physically to achieve my goals. As a result of this regimented daily exercise consisting of running, calisthenics, and weight training, I have not only vastly improved my physical strength and endurance, but I have also gained important character traits such as discipline, self-confidence, and integrity. I learned discipline by forcing myself to do something tiring and painful on a daily basis because I knew it was good for me. I learned self-confidence in that I found I could set seemingly unrealistic goals and achieve them through hard work and dedication. I learned integrity through self-discipline—since no one ever told me what to do or watched me while I worked out, it was my responsibility to be true to myself and strive to reach my goals. I believe that through my daily physical training I have significantly developed my character and integrity. It is important for officers to have excellent character, and I believe that is something I have built up greatly throughout my life, and hope to continue to build at the United States Naval Academy.
Thanks guys.
Besides, Marines have the best cadences. :icon_wink Yea, I've been filling out my packet as well, Jonez. I've got just about everything done, and I brought all the forms to the school today. They say the earlier you get it in the better.
I heard an interesting version of it at the Naval Academy. Besides the little bird, we also tore the legs off a little puppy, ripped the fur out of a tiny kitten, and flushed a baby mouse down the toilet. Quite fun, I must say. (no, I'm not sadistic.) :icon_smil