Learning to adjust

VIEWPOINT OF A TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY CADET

When I first came to Texas ChalleNGe Academy in July, we were informed we had a month of acclimation. During that time, we would be learning the routines and what was expected of us. At that time, we were all candidates, and if we passed acclimation, we would become a Cadet or a Cadet Private.

Now that we are in week seven, the truth is that acclimation never really ends. This means that each day, we have to learn to adapt. Whether that is learning what is expected of us in education, conducting ourselves properly at service to community, or learning a family member has been in an accident while we are here. All of these are things we must adapt to.

There are also things we must learn to adapt to that are different from back home. We have to adapt to all of the chaos that can happen in the bays. We have to adapt to all of the team leaders and their ways of communicating with us. And sometimes, when we are hurt or sick, we have to adapt to the ways that we are seen. Often, unless it is a glaring problem, we have to turn in a sick call slip and wait for the nurse to call for us.

I guess that the bottom line is that acclimation never really ends here. Just as in life, there are times when all of us have to adapt to different people and situations.