The Naval Academy was founded in 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland. It currently has 4,576 students, who are called midshipmen or mids. On May 16th, I visited the Naval Academy while touring Annapolis. While walking around, I saw students both at school and walking around Annapolis, always dressed in their summer uniforms. These uniforms are all white, with pants, collared shirts, and a hat, and are called their Summer Whites. You can tell each mid’s class by the shirt or jacket they wear. As a mid moves up a class, they get more gold stripes on their jacket. In a similar way, the collar of a mid’s shirt gives away their class.

Graduates of the Naval Academy, like Michael Davis from the class of 93’, say going to the Naval Academy was the best thing that happened to them. “Sure it was hard, but I learned what I needed to go out into the real world and fight bravely for my country”.

The Naval Academy is built on tradition. It is not like any other college I have been to. Some traditions are fun, such as painting the famous Tecumseh statue with war paint before big games or during special occasions. Other traditions are not so fun, like “plebe summer.”  This is the summer before a mid’s freshman year, where they spend most of the summer at the Academy, training to be a midshipman. The plebes are subjected to verbal abuse, physically taxing exercises, and forced to know everything in the “blue book,” or a book of facts about the Naval Academy. This process goes on for six weeks. Even though it might not seem like it, there is a purpose to plebe summer. According to www.usna-parents.org, plebe summer, “develops leadership ability, motivation, moral strength, physical skills and stamina.” This can be the worst part of a mid’s career at the Naval Academy, but it develops skills and bonds that he will need in the future.

In my opinion, the Naval Academy’s campus is beautiful. It is full of old Renaissance style buildings that all go with the view of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay. The soccer, lacrosse and football fields are right on the water, as is the athletic center. The Naval Academy also has every sport you can imagine, including squash, crew, and sailing. Everything on campus is very well maintained and neat, including the midshipmen.

The midshipmen have an air of solidarity and cohesion. I think it might have something to do with the fact that they all had to go through the same grueling process to get where they are. They all know what it takes to be in the Navy. If anyone is considering taking a trip to Annapolis, I advise them to go the Naval Academy as well. It is amazing to look at that culture, and the beautiful campus with all of the students. The school is very diverse and has so much to offer and is a great place to visit.