As you know from my At the End Was a Rainbow post, my oldest son, Tommy, will be attending VMI this fall. The school’s tagline is “No ordinary college. No ordinary life.” And the journey he’s about to embark on is anything but ordinary.
On August 16th, he’ll be a rat—that’s what first year VMI students are called for about the first six months. This period is known as the Rat Line, and for all intents and purposes, it’s an extended Bootcamp. But this is where they grow. Learn what it’s like to truly be a part of a team. Overcome challenges they never dreamed possible.
No one rat succeeds or fails. They either all succeed or all fail. I have no doubt they WILL succeed just like the other 180+ classes that came before them. And they do this while also carrying a full-time college class workload. No ordinary college. No ordinary life.
Wow! It’s amazing how these 18-year-old men and women do it. College is hard enough but adding bootcamp on top of it?! Wow! It’s enough to break anyone. But then again, that’s the point. This is a military college. They are training our future leaders. They break them down so they can build them up strong. Wow!
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any anxiety—not because I think Tommy won’t make it (I know he will)—but because this process is both uncomfortable and painful for anyone who goes through it. As a mother, I want to shield him, but that would defeat its purpose. Protection is not an option.
The only thing I can do is watch from the sidelines and cheer him on as he transforms from boy to a man who in four years will be part of the leadership defending this country. I won’t let my anxiety take that away from him.
But this is a difficult journey—one where even the toughest will experience moments of doubt. So, I will be writing articles of encouragement and inspiration to help him (and anyone else who needs it) along the way. I will be nothing more than a glorified cheerleader, but I’m okay with that. These articles will be in my blog, but I’ll also link them in the “Inspirations” page I’ve created.
As a sendoff to Tommy (and any VMI rat reading this), I’ll leave with this:
Words cannot express how proud of you we are. We didn’t think you’d be able to attend VMI this year. But God stepped in and said, “Yes, you are.” And you received a scholarship. When things get tough, remember that God put you here.
Rat. The word doesn’t have a great connotation. But when you’re called it at VMI, be proud. Wear it like a badge of honor. Because you were chosen, and come breakout, you will have earned the right to be called “cadet.” Stand tall, rat!
The upperclassmen will test you. They’ll do their best to tear you down. They will find your flaws because no one is perfect. But as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones said, “Let them see that their words can cut and you’ll never be free of the mockery. Never forget what you are, the rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
No ordinary college. No ordinary life. No ordinary journey.
You’ve got this!
‘Til next time!