United States Naval Academy

To be honest, I wish I hadn't wasted so much effort to try to get in. Long story, but I would have rather gone to a ROTC university, and ultimately, I left in the second year. I wanted not so much to go to the Academy, as to be a naval officer. So, I did become a naval officer (OCS) and ultimately had a great career that culminated in command-at-sea. But wanting to be a naval officer isn't enough, and wanting a degree isn't enough (I have three graduate degrees now). I think you have to want to go to the Naval Academy. Period. I was an introvert in a lot of ways and I think that hurt me. Twenty-five years later, I still have nightmares about this place, though one enduring friendship continues. I continue to wish that going ROTC had been an option in my (very unique) situation...I'm sure it would have been fun to have a normal college experience instead of doing either USNA or the route I eventually took to get my degree finished.

1st Year Female -- Class 1993

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