I got back with plenty of time to park and get a spot for the ceremony. Looming clouds had some thinking the ceremony would be moved inside, but my phone assured me we'd be outside, so I didn't move. The plebes marched in early and had time to sit in the cool of the early evening. I've uploaded the actual swearing in here. After the plebes were dismissed, Jessi had her swim team coach call me to find out where I was. She told me he just happened to be near her and offered. Later he came to find us and offered to take our photo and assured Jessi she would be in the pool next week.
Her first day was no walk in the park. She explained that at one point she was told to get her personal things but when she responded she didn't bring any, the detailers were confused and continued to yell at her to go get them. She said they were really mean. Once she got to her room and opened up all her gear, she saw that she had made the right decision. There was nothing missing and all the items suggested for her to bring were provided. She said she felt like she was the slowest one there. I reminded her that she was there to swim fast in the water and not to worry about not being fast on her feet for now-- just survive. I reminded her the story of her friend who had cried in the middle of her race and told her she didn't need to be the best, just finish. She has an older room mate who has been in a military school already and helped her with her bed and told her to just live from meal to meal. She said she didn't think that would work for her. I told her just to make it to swim team practice next week and then she could always have that to look forward to-- the coach later reiterated this. (note- the team practices are not official and are led by older girls on hand, not the coaches, and are not meant to be a time of training, just in case anyone from the NCAA is reading).
As I left her marching away, I looked around and saw many moms crying their eyes out, but I wasn't ready for tears. I just finished spending 45 minutes telling my daughter to stay strong, hold on and no matter what, don't start crying in the middle of anything! It seemed too hypocritical to start bawling right then. I walked away knowing the next 6 weeks were going to be way more challenging for her than she imagines and in the end she would be stronger for it.
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