This is a paper I wrote last semester for my English class. It's a paper built on metaphor. Hope you like it.
Clatter and Clang, Clatter and Clang. The sound of my keys against my belt constantly brings me back to the real world and reminds me that it’s just another day. I swipe my card to unlock the gates…time to deal with today’s animals. I walk into my cubicle that the zoo keeper calls an office and look at the days to-do list. Monday… first up the dolphins. Did you know they were one of the smartest animals in the world?
No! It’s Monday…Knowledge test. Why is my roommate not turning the alarm off? Beep…Beep…Beep, finally movement out of my roommate. I hope I can retain this knowledge. If I fail another test I am screwed. I have to get out of this place, I have to be a member of society rather than locked in this place everyone calls a zoo.
It seems as if my days are never ending. Constantly feeding the animals and entertaining the spectators, it’s a tough job to have. Not to mention ensuring that the zoo keeper is always happy. I have a job that few have the desire to do. Who wants to handle other’s problems and protect the spirits of little kids, when they have enough going on in their own lives? Well so far there have been 36,000 animal trainers come through this zoo and there are four others just like the one I work at. So why do we do it? Why do we put ourselves through this added stress? We do it because we choose to, because we want to make a difference in one child’s life. To see a smile on that little girl’s face because Flipper just did a back flip, makes my day and keeps me going.
What’s next…think, think. I know I have forgotten something.. I have no animals to train or take care of until 9:50. I should go visit the otters and check in to make sure they’re doing okay. Then there are always the other trainers to check in on as well. Hopefully as I help the others it will come to me.
Yes…two hours off before my first class. It’s time to relax in the library, catch up with friends, and go over my endless to-do list. Homework for the day…I have to read for history. Any class representative stuff? I don’t think so. I love how close I’ve gotten to my classmates. They are always there to support me and give me advice. Although we wonder why we accepted the appointment to this fine institution, it is the people that keep you here. Throughout basic training we were taught to always support your wingman. Now that the academic year has started we insure that we follow-through and help each other out.
What now!? My radio has just gone off saying there’s a problem at the petting zoo. I take a nice jog after eating a morning snack and I get to deal with the screaming kids who are upset because the dolphins aren’t doing tricks and the ant farm isn’t what they expected. You can never please those screaming kids. They expect so much and there is no way to accomplish all that they want. To make it worse, the General has high expectations for us. We have to figure out how to manage our time and quiet all of those screaming voices that are just another problem, just another animal to take care of and train. I wish the upper classmen would view us as acceptable for even a few minutes. Can the kids not see that I’m trying to fix the problem? Great, one just dropped their ice cream on the ground, another screaming voice. Why would a kid eat ice cream at 8:00 in the morning, that’s right…because they can.
As I go on with my day I go from class to training. Whether it’s reconditioning for the PFT or lacrosse practice, I’m sure to get a work out either way. Running the strips are work enough. All the while, I amlooking at the walls and the fences meant to keep people out, but sometimes it just feels like they are meant to keep me in. On days when we have lunch formations, people line the wall to watch the next generation of America’s leaders march to lunch. Family may only be twenty feet away, but separation is made by a giant wall of all the classes who came before us.
I get back to my office late into the afternoon. Above my desk are pictures of family and friends and reminders of what is still left to be done. Today is still Monday although I have done enough to last a week. It is my night to wash and feed the animals. Starting off with the elephants sounds like a way to wrap up the day to me. I always seem to get lost in my own thoughts, it must be the elephant’s ability to remember rubbing off on me. Giraffes, those are always fun. But its hard to reach every part of them. It’s always nice when they just bend their necks down, in attempt to be helpful. It would be nice if all of life’s problems just bowed down so they were easier to reach and clean up. I almost wish Class Representative responsibilities were the same. Sometimes upperclassmen just throw so much onto my plate it’s unbearable. But this is my life now and I have to get used to it.
Finally my day is over. As the lights slowly go out one by one I look back at my day. What have I accomplished and what is left for tomorrow? I turn off my office light with one last glimpse toward a wall covered with notices and a radio that has finally been turned off after never silencing. I’m headed back to 2012 Viking Lane, USAFA, CO 80841. It’s my home and I would change nothing about it.
Another thing to do, another problem to overcome, another animal to train, it’s all the same. It’s part of my life now. I’m a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy and every morning that I wake up I have to deal with the screaming upper classmen, yesterday’s problems, and today’s animals. All I can do though is keep my head up and constantly remember those elephants, get help from the other four degrees and always keep an eye on the doves. This is my life now, cadet by day and animal trainer by night. Always on display and never having time to myself.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
100s Weekend
This is the one time when being popular matters. How cool of a room you get is all based on whether or not your freshmen like you. So seniors watch what you say and don't be a tool. Welcome to USAFA 100's Night 2009.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Ode to O9
As I sit here trying to do some last minute cramming for my Chemistry GR, all I can think about is how the Academy will change at 1630 this afternoon.
There's about 3 inches of snow covering the Academy. The Doolies are allowed to walk the strips on the Friday before our three day week. All of us can't wait to be let loose to trash the seniors rooms that will act as a farewell gift. At 1630 we are put at rest for the first time. We are allowed to travel in and out of other squadrons at our own will. We don't have to greet upperclassmen and all 40 days ROEs go out the window...until TAPS.
USAFA, like any military academy is rich in tradition. On the Friday before the 100 days left until graduation the freshmen decorate the senior rooms. To show you disrespect a person their room is put in SAMI condition. Some alcoves are covered with plywood, others turned into janitors closets, and there's always at least one that is so creative everyone is amazed. The themes tend to do with the person who resides in the room or a specific memory the freshmen have of the senior. We have a couple of some such rooms within our squadron.
Two of our seniors, firsties, are getting married after graduation. Have of the room is a bachelor pad, complete with Jacuzzi and junk food. The other half of the room is after the marriage, well kept and children's toys laying around.
Our basic flight commander is turning into a Basic Training memory room. Pictures of his four favorite basics that couldn't go 12 minutes without being yelled at, and broken binders galore.
We decided as a squadron of freshmen that it is rude to SAMI a person's room. So instead we're turning his room into a real barn. We're not allowed to bring in live animals, but horse manure was approved.
No matter how bad the times are here at USAFA, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it's tough it's broken up with weekends, 100's night, NCLS, and random days when the upperclassmen admit they're dragging just as bad as we are.
There's about 3 inches of snow covering the Academy. The Doolies are allowed to walk the strips on the Friday before our three day week. All of us can't wait to be let loose to trash the seniors rooms that will act as a farewell gift. At 1630 we are put at rest for the first time. We are allowed to travel in and out of other squadrons at our own will. We don't have to greet upperclassmen and all 40 days ROEs go out the window...until TAPS.
USAFA, like any military academy is rich in tradition. On the Friday before the 100 days left until graduation the freshmen decorate the senior rooms. To show you disrespect a person their room is put in SAMI condition. Some alcoves are covered with plywood, others turned into janitors closets, and there's always at least one that is so creative everyone is amazed. The themes tend to do with the person who resides in the room or a specific memory the freshmen have of the senior. We have a couple of some such rooms within our squadron.
Two of our seniors, firsties, are getting married after graduation. Have of the room is a bachelor pad, complete with Jacuzzi and junk food. The other half of the room is after the marriage, well kept and children's toys laying around.
Our basic flight commander is turning into a Basic Training memory room. Pictures of his four favorite basics that couldn't go 12 minutes without being yelled at, and broken binders galore.
We decided as a squadron of freshmen that it is rude to SAMI a person's room. So instead we're turning his room into a real barn. We're not allowed to bring in live animals, but horse manure was approved.
No matter how bad the times are here at USAFA, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it's tough it's broken up with weekends, 100's night, NCLS, and random days when the upperclassmen admit they're dragging just as bad as we are.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
2nd Semester
Why did you come back?
We have constantly heard this question over the two weeks we've been back from winter break. Why did we choose to come back when we could have left all behind and gone to a normal college? Each one of us has our own reasons. We look back at the past six months and remember the experiences we've had.
Our left arms are stronger than our right. We all have the same first name...Cadet. We wake up at 0600 and bed time is at 2245. We have a course load that no other college can match. We will be going through the 3 hardest days of our lives only to receive a metal pin to stick on our hats which means we can wear our bookbags on our backs and talk on the terrazo.
I came back for the people. I have met people from all over the world and each has had different life experiences. The Academy is such a small community. While walking through the airport in my service dress I'm stopped by a United pilot. He says, "So I see they let you out of the zoo for a bit". I reply with a, "Yes Sir they did. What class are you?" He tells me that he is a '89 grad. He walks me to my next gate and I get bumped up to first class. I walk through the halls of Fairchild, our academic building, and I'm constantly greeted with a smile and how's your day by the majority of my classmates.
We're all here for one reason. To defend our country. We could care less that they call us America's best and brightest or we get 8 weeks of leave a year if we're lucky. We all came back to finish what we started. We came back because we want to graduate on a sunny day in May of 2012 and go out and defend the United States of America.
We have constantly heard this question over the two weeks we've been back from winter break. Why did we choose to come back when we could have left all behind and gone to a normal college? Each one of us has our own reasons. We look back at the past six months and remember the experiences we've had.
Our left arms are stronger than our right. We all have the same first name...Cadet. We wake up at 0600 and bed time is at 2245. We have a course load that no other college can match. We will be going through the 3 hardest days of our lives only to receive a metal pin to stick on our hats which means we can wear our bookbags on our backs and talk on the terrazo.
I came back for the people. I have met people from all over the world and each has had different life experiences. The Academy is such a small community. While walking through the airport in my service dress I'm stopped by a United pilot. He says, "So I see they let you out of the zoo for a bit". I reply with a, "Yes Sir they did. What class are you?" He tells me that he is a '89 grad. He walks me to my next gate and I get bumped up to first class. I walk through the halls of Fairchild, our academic building, and I'm constantly greeted with a smile and how's your day by the majority of my classmates.
We're all here for one reason. To defend our country. We could care less that they call us America's best and brightest or we get 8 weeks of leave a year if we're lucky. We all came back to finish what we started. We came back because we want to graduate on a sunny day in May of 2012 and go out and defend the United States of America.
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