Boom...

And just like that the "biggest secret on the Quad" was out.  At 10 o'clock Parson fired the canon and chaos ensued.  Well, at least for five minutes.  Last night your fish experienced one of the most memorable things in the Cadet Corps.  AIROUT.  Nobody breathes a word about airout until the night it happens.  The freshmen are put to bed thinking that the day is over only to be woken up to loud music and lots of yelling.  Believe it or not, but this is the one time that the upperclassmen really get to be loud when dealing with the fish.  Everybody looks forward to it, in fact, I would be willing to bet that your fish already has plans for next year.

Now that I have caused you to wonder why you thought the Corps was a good thing and why you entrusted your child to me let me explain some things.  Yes we were loud and yelled at your fish in the middle of the night.  Yes they didn't know what was going on and might have been scared.  But this event symbolizes the culmination of FOW.  They made it.  Aside from a few meetings today and the review tomorrow, your fish is now truly a cadet in the Corps.  Is there a lot of work still to be done? Yes, but they made it.

After the initial shock of being yelled at while sleeping wears off, the fish were taken to the end of the Quad where they had a fish yell practice and got to have a good time with their buddies.  Following the yell practice, the freshmen ate watermelon and cookies with the zips behind the dorm.  It was and always will be an extremely fun and vivid memory.

Talk to your fish about it... in fact, I would encourage you to talk to your fish about the experiences they are having , not the standard "how are you today? hope it's not to hard."  Ask them specifics about actually what is going on.  Don't waste your time with "is it hard?" because if I have my way it will be.  It will be tough, demanding, draining, and hard, but it will also be enriching, teaching, developing, and memorable.  

Remember, for me, it's about way more than the Corps.

1 Cor 9:24-27
Garrett