I went to military boarding school in the U.S. for three years during middle school. My parents told me they me sent me there because I was intelligent, but lazy, and my messy room and grades in school reflected that.
There were a few negatives in that I did get bullied and almost got kicked out trying to do something about it, but overall going to military school was good for me. I made good friends, one of whom is still my best friend to this day. I became more disciplined and organized, making straight As for the first time in my life and graduating middle school as Valedictorian of my middle school class. I became more confident for having gone through military school, made good grades, and doing way better than my ‘bully’. The negative stuff even turned out to be a positive. The ‘bullying’ I got toughened me up and the teasing taught me to differentiate between insults and jokes (I used to take everything seriously). My “bully” even encouraged me to wrestle and play football my final year in which I did very well. My finest moment was when I was on the defense during kickoff and sprinted to the field because I didn’t realize I was supposed to be on the field. The other team redid kick off and I sprinted as fast as I could. I tackled a blocker, who fell back with enough momentum that he took out the ball carrier and stopped the play.
In military school I learned basic social graces and how to not be a complete pussy. By the time I got high school in another English-speaking country, I was just a little socially awkward. The lack girls in my military school hindered my experience (compared to a lot of kids today) and made my first week or two, very fun weeks (I ogled every single pretty girl I could). As I was learning how the place was like, wondering why people seemed to be intimidated by me (I was also afraid of no one), I started to realize something. I was being too nice. If someone asked me a favor, I would do it without expecting to gain from it. I used to bake brownies from ninth to tenth grade and feed them to the dorm or my classes (they really liked me for that). At dinner I would take up all the trays and forks and knives from the table to the tray and people told, “Hey man, you don’t need to do that!” When prodded for information, I told one guy about a part of military school in middle school, and he got scared and told our high school (which almost kicked me out). I was starting to learn that I had to be very careful of who, if anyone, I could trust, and that if I was too nice, people would take advantage of me.
I stopped being as nice and started to think more in terms of, “what’s in it for me?” when people asked for favors. I divided people into two groups: close friends, and everybody else. I was still pretty nice to my close friends, but lately I have realized that even they took advantage of me to some extent to (I’m not completely sure of to what extent by whom just yet). In a way, I swallowed a purple pill, a vital change that directed me on the path I am today.
~Wald
Well I guess both entities jelled.
I assumed one would be super awkward as far as body posturing(too rigid)once being in the military.
Yeah, people thought I was a little awkward with my rigid posture and stiff walk. I eventually stopped being so stiff and walked with a swagger.
Learning to keep your circle tight is such a vital lesson. One that is easy to forget over time, but always is eventually relearned.
Maybe you lacked some of the social etiquette, but imagine not having those trials as a young teen that helped form you. The benefit of the bullying that so many boys are forced to go without these days.
Because of my experiences, which were quite mild, I see in retrospect, I believe kids should go through similar things. At least, we gotta tell kids to stop being pussies.
There have been so many kids I’ve met that I thought, “This kid needs to get his ass beat.”
Either they’ve never been in a fight in their entire life or they’ve never been disciplined by their parents, or both.
That must be a curious experience, coming from a harsh place to a paradise of pussies and having trouble because of being too nice. I figure that hardship is what enables one to have compassion in the first place, as you learn to trust your feelings and are not ruled by fear.
Any thoughts on insult vs jokes?
It was very curious. It allowed me to grow a significant amount and the tough lessons I learned with girls kept my attention when I lacked tough lessons to learn about how to deal with men (and I had learned enough).
I agree – hardship engenders compassion in some respects – but people can be shitty – especially kids.
I am better at discerning insults from jokes but now I couldn’t care less. An insult is not worth starting a fight over and it doesn’t really bother me anyway.
Wald
It did bother you what I said about your father, though.
True, true.
That’s because you’re part of this sphere of things, so I automatically give you a small blanket of trust and consideration since you read what I write and discuss it rather than use it as ammunition against me.
Therefore, instead of being some random person, I actually place some value on what you say.
Secondly – this blog is my house, in a sense. I wouldn’t even tolerate someone who wasn’t family talking bad about my black sheep sister, for long.
Wald
Ah, so you were referring to strangers.
That makes sense. I will ponder about it a bit.
Yes, the rule of the house. I can understand that sentiment.
Strangers can say a lot, regardless of intent, because they just straight up don’t matter to me.
Friends can say a lot, provided their intent is innocent, but they matter to me in different degrees. The more important a friend, the more leeway and benefit of the doubt they get.
Wald
Interesting. I used to have the suspicion that a few guys at work were mocking me because they liked me. But I was extremely insecure back then and more prone to see it as an attack. Part of that demonification.