College in Connecticut
When I applied to the Academy, I knew it was the place for me and would enthusiastically list off the many, many reasons I wanted to attend to anyone who would listen. But I always maintained one exception: New London, CT. Growing up and sailing around Annapolis, it never matched up against the allure of […]
Commonly Asked Questions (Part 2)
Hey, I thought of serval more questions that I often get asked. I also threw in some questions that I think people should ask. What makes the Coast Guard Academy different from other Academies? This biggest thing that sets Coast Guard apart is that is really small. I know all the cadets in my class […]
The Wonders of Connecticut Weather
As a Colorado native, everyone could understand why I feared the Connecticut weather. The large increase in humidity and rain fall caused a lot of concern for me. While I feared the Connecticut weather, I have come to love it and here is why. Early morning humidity during swab summer was the most amazing experience, […]
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 […]
