THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

I have been informed (repeatedly) that it will soon be Tiffany's birthday.  I don't care so much about that, but it does serve to remind one that the end of the school year, and for seniors the end of high school, is right around the corner.  Here are a few things to consider:

• If you are a freshman, ask yourself if you did everything you needed to do freshman year.  Are you prepared to capitalize on the rest of your high school opportunity?  Freshman year is tough.  If you did not do as well as you hoped, recommit yourself and work harder next year--there is still time.
• If you are a sophomore, ask yourself if you are ready to move into junior year and springboard yourself to a successful life after high school.  If not, it is time for what we call in the Navy a serious mid-course correction.  There is still time, but not so much.  You are now half way through high school and you have less of an opportunity to improve your average.  Get hot.  If you want to go to start at a four year college after graduation, you should be studying for the SAT test now.  You should be thinking about what you would like to do for a living.  To many people say they want to be an astronaut, but that they are going to take a year or two off to start a band first.  There's a saying I like:  "A goal without a plan is but a dream."  I'd add that the plan has to be a good one.  You don't get to be a doctor,  astronaut, or successful business owner without a good plan.  Without a plan you can't even pay the bills. 
• If you are a junior, ask yourself if you are really on track to becoming an independent adult.  Have you thought honestly about what you will do after high school?  Do you have a realistic plan? If so, does it need to be updated?  If you don't have a plan, make one!  If you are planning on going to college, you should have taken the SATs.  You should be at least starting the process of selecting a college.  Have you decided what is important to you college-wise?  If you are thinking of the military, you should be in contact with a recruiter. 
• If you are a senior, ask yourself if you are still on track--is your plan working?  By now, you ought to have things pretty well locked down.  If you don't have a firm idea of what you will be doing when the merry go-round stops, you need to get really serious.
• If you will be in the NJROTC program next year, be thinking about what you would like to do.  We will shortly announce the billet selection process.  If you are applying for a billet next year, be prepared to work--several people have been removed from billets this year.  If you are applying for a senior billet, be honest with yourself and ask if you really rate it.  This isn't a question of being a better cadet than your classmates, it is a question of meeting the requirements of the billet.  A staff billet is not a reward, it is an opportunity.

What else is going on:

• Annual Inspection 3 April.
• Orientation trip to DC 12-15 April.
• Military Ball 4 May.
• Area Championship 12 May.
• Awards ceremony and change of command 31 May.

We will also have an end of year challenge open to those who have qualified  There will be a cash prize.  The details are yet to be determined, but so far the following cadets have qualified for the competition:  Cadets Ferguson, Esquivel, Barone, Fitzgerald, and Lloyd.  If you have successfully answered a couple of my previous challenges and feel that you should be on this list, let me know.