Rats No More

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No rats allowed sign

Well, they did it…the (VMI) rats broke out! They are now officially 4th Class Cadets! And this is no small feat. Nothing at VMI is given—everything must be earned. The incoming freshmen in the fall are not automatically cadets. They must first prove themselves worthy of that honor. To do that, the class as a whole must demonstrate their unity—their ability to forget themselves as individuals and come together at one concrete, unfailing unit. The Rat Mass of 2026+3 (now officially the Class of 2029) was one of the earliest classes to breakout (which says a lot about their commitment to one another), but it wasn’t without it’s challenges.

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But It’s Not the Same

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Man with single tear

Expectations. We all have them. Some are big. Others are small. But it’s still a disappointment when something we’re looking forward to doesn’t come to pass.

On January 12th, Thomas and I dropped Tommy and one of his Brother Rats (classmates) back at VMI. It was dark and rainy, but we hugged, said our “good-byes,” and headed back home. All seemed to be going as expected. Then I received a call from Tommy the next morning.

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Give Your Pennies to Santa Claus

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Group: hands together on a log

One thing I love about VMI is the culture of unity. When you enroll, you’re not just another warm body, you’re family—for life. And this doesn’t stop with the students; it extends to the families. I will be forever grateful for the parents of upperclassmen that took Thomas and I under their wings and helped us navigate the ratline. And the only thing they ask in return: pay it forward—help a rat family in future years. Definitely! But we had the opportunity and privilege to do something this year.

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Don’t Be Afraid to Lean on Your Team

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stuck under rocks

I confess, I’m tired. Exhausted. In my No Matter How Long It Takes post, I talked about working to get back to a “normal” routine after the better part of a year being riddled with one crisis after another. Well, not too long after publishing that article, one crisis popped it’s ugly head up, and it was the last one I would have chosen—the one that put my child in jeopardy.

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Just Play the Game

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DnD Dice

When I was in high school, every summer my youth group would do a “senior sendoff” to those who had just graduated. It was a chance for them to celebrate their accomplishments, say, “good-bye,” and share their plans for the future. A couple of the guys were joining the ROTC corps at a university a couple hours away. I had no doubt that they would both succeed, so it came as a surprise when several months later, I learned that one of them was regretting his decision.

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