The Top 3 Things You Learn as a Midshipman

First off, what exactly is a midshipman? If you search the term on Dictionary.com, you will find the definition as “a student, as at the U.S. Naval Academy, in training for commission as ensign in the Navy or second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.” Midshipmen aren’t always commissioned from the Naval Academy. They can also be commissioned from ROTC or a military institute.

I wanted to hit on this topic now because I changed as a person throughout my entire time of being a midshipman. Sure, it’s been awhile since I was a midshipman (I was a midshipman from 2014-2018), but I believe that what I learned throughout my time are universal things that other people learn no matter what time period it is.

Okay, here goes:

1. Be yourself.

I know, I know. How could I possibly start with the most cliché thing anyone ever mentions? Well, I have to say that it’s true. During my first two years as a midshipman, I was always so worried about what people thought about me, basically constantly overthinking of whether or not I was doing or saying the right things. I just wanted people to like me. I spent so much time worrying about others that I didn’t spend enough time on myself. I soon became mentally and emotionally exhausted because I was so invested in others’ opinions of me, but I soon realized that I just needed to do the things that made ME happy. In the end, it’s ME who is living my life, not anyone else.

2. Seize every opportunity to do the things that YOU love to do.

I can’t stress this enough. There were plenty of times when I just did things because I thought it was the “cool” thing to do. For example, I joined the Judo team in college because I thought it would make me look cool to others. In reality, no one cared. As for me, I ended up being miserable. I hate fighting! It wasn’t until this past summer that I gave up what I thought had been my dream (I will probably write more about this in a later post!). This year I started to do more things that made me happy. To list a few, I stopped lifting and now only do cardio, I read more, and I go out with the people that I actually like being around. Life is so short, so why spend your life doing things you absolutely hate?

3. Make time for the people who matter to you.

I was always so busy as a midshipman. Always. I have to admit that I don’t really have a problem keeping up with people, but I have noticed how other people get irritated when a loved one tries to have a conversation with them. Look, I get that everyone gets busy from time to time. Heck, I would rather be left alone than have a full on conversation with someone if I happen to be doing a huge project or studying for a test! BUT from time to time look up from whatever you’re doing and spend some time with the people who really matter to you! I’ve realized that sometimes we take the people who we love the most for granted, and sometimes we don’t even tell them how we appreciate them until it’s too late.

_{Girl’s Night Out: August 26, 2017}

_{Service Selection Day: November 16, 2017}

(Not) college taught me so much. It taught me to prioritize the things and human beings that matter to me the most. I look back fondly on these days because at the moment, I hate every moment of being where I was. However, I now look back at those moments as learning experiences filled with tough love and humility.

-Nene