The End is Near

Well, the end of the semester is only two weeks away. Some days I look back and think that the semester flew right by. Then there are those days when I think that time has actually slowed down, just to make everything seem longer. Well it doesn't matter anymore, because classes end next Wednesday. Looking back, I have learned quite a bit. I remember when I first started Celestial Navigation, I was petrified that I would never understand it. It's now safe to say that I am grasping the concepts quite well.

With a little less than two weeks left of class, we are suddenly hit with nice weather. Bright blue skies and warm air have finally reached our campus.

With summer in sight, many cadets are making the final arrangements on their summer plans. For my summer, I will be traveling to Galveston, Texas for an internship with G & H Towing Company. I leave June 20th and will return August 24th. My schedule will be 5 days on the tug with 2 days off. I looking forward to working in Galveston and Houston for the summer. One of my shipmates from school also got in an internship with G & H for the summer. From what I hear, it's a whole new level of hot down there. Along with the heat, will come great opportunities to learn about tugs and how they are used in ship assist.

With less than three weeks left I am excited to wrapping up the semester. This won't come without a lot of hard work as the last tests and Finals approach.

Late Night Watch

Last night I stood watch on the bridge from 0000-0400. Watches are generally uneventful. No alarms, the campus was asleep, and I was all alone on the bridge. As the night rolled on, I could hear a little chatter over the VHF Radio. I don't usually pay too much attention to the radio, most chatter doesn't concern the area that our ship is docked at or concern the safety of our vessel. Except on this particular night, I heard a tanker come in over the radio notifying canal control of its position. I recognized the name of the tanker immediately. I had seen this particular vessel in the canal on a number of occasions throughout the last couple years. The tanker wasn't small by any means, she was 600 ft. long (60ft. longer than the T.S Kennedy). Of course it's not a big ship in comparrison to the massive vessels that sail the seas. For our Cape Cod Canal, she was big. Over the next hour I could hear canal control and the vessel communicate back and forth. Soon I could see the tanker on the horizon. It crept slowly towards the T.S. Kennedy. Soon I heard, "Canal Control, Canal Control. Tanker New England approaching Mass. Maritime Academy." It was like something out of a book. I knew there was a mate up on the bridge of that ship standing a watch. I thought to myself, in just a few years I'll be standing on the bridge of a ship doing the same thing. Maybe not going through the Cape Cod Canal, but somewhere out on the big blue. Slowly she crossed astern and went up the canal eastbound.

Tomorrow MMA will host an Open House for all prospective students. I'll be attending of course to help present the academy and the Marine Transportation Major. I am sure looking forward to ship tours and educating prospective students about the T.S Kennedy.

Fun at the Red Sox

On Monday the Wounded Warrior Project donated a number of Red Sox tickets after MMA donated money last week. I was able to get a pair of tickets because I had bought an item at the auction on Sea Term. The money from the auction went to support Wounded Warrior. MMA provided a pair of school buses for students to travel to and from the game. It was an excellent night to attend. The stadium paid tribute to the United States armed forces throughout the game. It was truly something special, especially due to recent world events. The Red Sox defeated the Angels, in what was a great show.

Today I have my interview for squad leader. The petty officer program has been very rewarding. I have learned a lot about my self as a leader. I have learned about what things I need to work on, and the areas that I do well in.

Looking forward, this weekend there will be an Open House for prospective students.