I launched my paddle board at the vibrant Annapolis town dock next door to the prestigious grounds of the Naval Academy. If you wanna visit the Academy, you can request an escorted tour, but really the best way to catch a vivid, accurate snapshot of midshipmen life is from the banks of the Severn River. And the best time to go is in the evening when the midshipmen are done with their classes and are all participating in sports or physical fitness galore.

You get a unique perspective of midshipmen life not offered to anyone else, and hopefully come out energized and better inspired.

I’ve always believed that looking at large bodies of water calms the human soul. The art of paddling along a body of water and soaking in the natural surroundings is peaceful and relaxing.

Midshipmen are always on their feet and run and march everywhere they need to go. Reminded me of the year I spent at BOOST, college preparatory school before I shipped off to the University of Florida.

My Early Beginnings at Sea

Just like at the USNA, we ran all the time, and we acted like our lives depended on us rushing from one event to another. We were hungry for strong academics and worked hard so we would succeed, gain our commission and serve in the United States Navy.