Puddle Pirates Takeover! Service Academy Exchange Part 1
Since coming to the Coast Guard Academy, I had my eyes set on going on exchange. Finally, 3/c year, second semester, thirty other cadets and I were allowed to apply for this amazing opportunity! I was a nervous wreck placing my application in as I wanted to be afforded the opportunity to go to the […]
Application Tips
I remember starting my application to the Coast Guard Academy, I didn’t really know where to start and knew I would have to make myself stand out to be considered in a highly competitive school. This is some advice for those of you who are starting your applications and feeling the same as I did […]
Staying Organized
Hello, hello! I’m 4/c Gigi Edmondson, from Marlborough, Massachusetts. When I got into USCGA, I used to scour these blog posts and read every single one hoping for some advice or insight about what to do with myself once I got here. I got a lot of really great tips from these posts, so today […]
Building Resilience
I am an avid reader and enjoy selecting books which interest me outside of my required school reading. I found the book Resilience, by Eric Greitens, to be inspiring, captivating and relatable to many experiences in my own life. The book explores the virtue of resilience, its importance in life and why many people possess […]
Commonly Asked Questions (Part 1)
How is the food? We have cadets from other Academies that stay at the Coast Guard Academy for a semester. We called them exchangers. I have heard from multiple exchangers that the Coast Guard’s food is the best! I personally really like dinner. There are a lot of choices. Lunch, however, is more limited than […]
Thankful for a Strong Community
One thing that I love about the Academy is the strong community that continues to grow with time. As I was thinking about this, I realized how awesome it is to be able to connect with my shipmates, teachers, and mentors in a real and genuine way. Just the other day as I was squaring around Chase, I randomly struck up a greeting […]
Nankurunaisa
Nankurunaisa. In English, there is no word that sums up this Okinawan term which roughly translates to: “don’t worry- it’ll be alright.” “Nankurunaisa,” is what my Obachan, my grandma, whispered to me during the 2011 Japan earthquake. “Nankurunaisa,” is what I whispered to myself at 8 years old, it hit me: I could lose everything. I […]
Break-ing Away on my Free Time
As a fourth-class cadet I did not know much about what Connecticut had to offer. It was not until this semester, my fall, first-class semester, when I finally started to branch out and see what makes Connecticut so great. Since we are in New London, we are right on the Thames River while also being […]
My Time as the Bravo Company Guidon
My time as the Bravo Company Guidon has been a time of learning. I was Phase 2 Swab Summer cadre, so I went straight from in the fire back into the fire as a semester one guidon. From Phase 2 Swab Summer I took along with me two of my fellow cadre who are now […]
Giving Thanks
It’s that time of year where everyone is encouraged to be thankful for the gifts life has offered them. Thanksgiving reminds us that surviving challenging times does not happen alone, and that there is good cause to take the time to be thankful when the rewards are plentiful. Thanksgiving is a time to be appreciative of your […]
