"Young People Today... ... ..."

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"Young people today... ... ...”



How often we use or say this phrase followed by a critical comment. I want to use the phrase followed by nothing but praise and admiration for a group of local young men and women.

Recently I had the privilege of talking with four NJROTC cadets from New Bern High School. Andrew, Chris, Anthony and Tommy have been learning to sail with members of Fairfield Harbour Yacht Club. They have had hands on experience in sailboats and on very cold days, racing on FHYC and NYRA members keelboats. They also helped with the administration of racing in the winter series on the Neuse River.

This has meant being on the Committee boat or helping to place marks on the course. I asked them what they learned from this time spent on the water. Andrew made it clear that he had learnt how to be part of a team and to know the importance of knowing the names of parts of the boat, the rig and the lines. Anthony found it necessary to work and bond with rest of the crew. Chris learnt to follow directions without question. Tommy found out that communication skills were very important and that he had to be able to work with people he had just met.

These four young men are proud of the uniforms they wear. They appreciate the discipline being a cadet requires. They spoke of the leadership roles they could handle, of the pride in maintaining good grades in academic work and the opportunity to follow careers in the military. All the cadets appreciate the Fairfield Harbour Yacht Club members who volunteer their time and expertise to give the cadets the on water experiences. The program has been going now for six years with cadets sailing on Ensigns and Flying Junior sailboats.

Classroom experience, learning how to capsize and right a boat, instruction in naval science, chain of command, oceanography, working on the drill team and acquiring the overall discipline demanded of them were things they enjoyed. There are over 160 students from freshmen to seniors in this program. I observed them in the classroom, the high standard of discipline and respect they showed to me, a visitor “On Board”.

They are the future, they are proud and their leadership will show in the careers they follow.

“Young people today…….” They certainly have my respect!

reprint of Fairfield Harbour Beacon article by Olwen Jarvis