United States Merchant Marine Academy - Midships Yearbook (Kings Point, NY)

Page 21 text:

Kings Point has become a way of life for many of us over these past years. Almost as soon as we got here, we had to conform to a different life style. Regi- mental aspects soon took over our daily lives. Most of us, however, chose to stay and see what this place had to offer. Every God given right we had was taken away and given back as a privilege. Now, four years later, we look back and wonder if it really was that bad. In the beginning, not many of us knew what Kings Point was about or what we were getting ourselves in to. With Plebe Year came the horrors of calculus, phys- ics, and chemistry to mention a few. In addition, we had to leave the securities of our old high school days and find new friends to help us cope with this abnor- mal college life. Like on a safari, we faced new challenges and overcame ob- stacles as they presented themselves. Leering in the future, was the question of surviving the journey through Kings Point. After the completion of Plebe Year, the infamous first part of sea year came. Liberty from the school was par- tially achieved and a new growth would soon develop with world travels. Without even realizing it, the year at sea came to an end before we knew it. Along with a greater respect for the sea came a bet- ter understanding of what we were actu- ally being trained for at Kings Point. Yearned with the desire to return to the mighty sea, many of us may find our- selves sailing as officers aboard the same ships we were on as cadets. Still, for some, the year at sea may have been the experience needed to realize that the seafaring career was not for them. Like many previous graduates, they may choose to serve the maritime industry through a shore side job. On the other hand, application of the skills acquired at Kings Point might go into serving in the armed forces of the United States. Virtually everyone will have made his or her decision by graduation. Even the scarce few who will pull the traditional Kings Point move and wait until the last minute to decide, will land a job thanks to the reputation of the Kings Point name. Yesterday seems like that hot and hu- mid day on July 7, 1986, when the class of 1990 reported for the first day of their four year saga at Kings Point. Our time here has flown by now that we look back upon it and graduation came knocking on our door. Until we had those papers in our hand, though, life at Kings Point continued as we knew it.