There comes a moment in every young man’s life when he realizes that he’s not quite the legend he imagined himself to be. For me, that moment hit like a ton of bricks during cadet summer training at West Point. I walked in, chest puffed out, thinking I was special. I mean, I was smart, physically fit, and had the tenacity of a honey badger. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, a lot. And quickly.
The first lesson they drill into your head at West Point is that you’re not special. Not in the slightest. You’re just like everyone else: a mix of arrogance and naivety with a dash of ambition. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that no one cares about your high school accolades or how many pull-ups you can do. You’re just another body in a sea of equally clueless recruits. Welcome to the suck.
The grueling experience is designed to break you down to your core and rebuild you as a stronger, more resilient individual. It’s more psychological than physical, though both aspects will make you question every life choice that led you there. The relentless drills, the barking instructors, the never-ending runs, all serve one purpose: to test your endurance. Will you endure? Will you quit? Are you weak?
As Ronald Reagan wisely said, “History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” That quote echoed in my mind during every torturous moment. The point of this madness was to teach us something profound about ourselves. We needed to embrace the suck. We had to go through this trial to prove our mettle, to show that we could handle whatever life threw at us.
This concept of enduring hardship to achieve greatness isn’t new. It’s a classical feature of many ancient civilizations. The Spartans, for example, were trained from a young age to endure pain and hardship, to become the ultimate warriors. We are naive to think this doesn’t apply to our generation. The trials may look different, but the core lesson remains: to grow, you must first be tested.
So, to all the young men out there, remember this: embrace the suck. It’s only temporary. Whether you’re facing a grueling training regimen, a tough job, or any challenging situation, know that these trials are shaping you into something better. And who knows, one day you might look back and laugh at the times you thought you’d never make it through. Because you did. And you’re stronger for it
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