My Semester With the Snowflakes

[johngross]

I'm not trying to prove anything or make a point with this, just thought it was a well written article by a 52 year old combat wounded veteran (James Hatch) who started as a freshman at Yale last May.

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In May of 2019, I was accepted to the Eli Whitney student program at Yale University.

At 52, I am the oldest freshman in the class of 2023. Before I was accepted, I didn't really know what to expect. I had seen the infamous YouTube video of students screaming at a faculty member. I had seen the news stories regarding the admissions scandal and that Yale was included in that unfortunate business. I had also heard the students at Yale referred to as "snowflakes" in various social media dumpsters and occasionally I'd seen references to Ivy League students as snowflakes in a few news sources.

I should give a bit of background information. I was an unimpressive and difficult student in public schools. I joined the military at 17 and spent close to 26 years in the US Navy. I was assigned, for 22 of those years to Naval Special Warfare Commands. I went through SEAL training twice, quit the first time and barely made it the second time. I did multiple deployments and was wounded in combat in 2009 on a mission to rescue an American hostage.

Every single day I went to work with much better humans than myself. I was brought to a higher level of existence because the standards were high and one needed to earn their slot, their membership in the unit. This wasn't a one-time deal. Every time you showed up for work, you needed to prove your worth.

The vetting process is difficult and the percentages of those who try out for special operations units and make it through the screening is very low.

In an odd parallel, I feel, in spite of my short time here, the same about Yale.

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You can read the full article here.

My Semester With the Snowflakes - GEN

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Truly outstanding!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Excellent piece of writing. I am going to be busy sending that to every one in my expanded circle.

 

[Rustyt1953]

PS: we need a 10 star rating.

 

[Golddollar]

That's a wonderful story.

My story probably isn't so dramatic, but it is about a time where I entered a talent show at the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg, WV. I was probably the only contestant over the age of 22. There I was at 60+. For my act I was going to sing Dave Dudley's old song "Six Days on the Road." Apparently after dress rehearsal one young fellow looked it up on YouTube or something and the night of the show he told me how well I compared to Dave Dudley. The other contestants were absolutely great. They thought it was great that someone at my age was going up on stage and carrying on. I didn't win, but I sure had a great time being part of the show with them.

 

[Rustyt1953]

As you all know Ruthie got her LPN at 59 years of age.

I just asked her if any of her classmates (mostly millennials) were "snowflakes"?

She said: "not a one".

 

[sigp220.45]

What a great read for this Christmas day.

 

[Rule3]

Excellent writing.

I do not think that Ivy League Schools are inhabited by the "snowflakes". The criteria to get into those schools is very high (as you know)
Snowflakes do exist in other places. They would melt if faced with the challenges of Yale, Harvard MIT etc.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Excellent writing.

I do not think that Ivy League Schools are inhabited by the "snowflakes". The criteria to get into those schools is very high (as you know)
Snowflakes do exist in other places. They would melt if faced with the challenges of Yale, Harvard MIT etc.

Snowflake doesn't mean dumb....... more like those who expect to be sheltered from harsh realities of the real world.

..... IIRC back in the day Yale's Law School Grads had a relatively low % passing the NY or NJ(?) Bar Exam.. Pitt's pass rate in Pa was higher... the joke was that they would answer questions based on what they wanted the law to be not what it was!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nice article.......Johngross...... glad your here........ will be looking forward to your contribution to threads in the lounge!


I've got two boys in College right now a Senior and a Freshman......... debates at the dinner table are fun.

The oldest is now 22 so we've had some 'debates" over an adult beverage or two!!!

I try not to make life to easy for them........ cus the real world isn't easy and there's no guaranteed "safe spaces"...... they hear "no" from me a lot more than they would like.......... course I'd admit their Mom is a "safe place for her boys"!

 

[Art Doc]

I dropped out of college after 2 years. Returned at 32 and wound up graduating 5 times. For the past 25 years I have sat on the other side of the of the desk, teaching humanities and art history (hence Art Doc).

Colleges and associated faculty have a well deserved reputation for being liberal. But not all. Certainly an ivy league university in an urban area of a blue state will be predominantly liberal. I had some polite and some heated exchanges with some of my profs. But I have worked at small state colleges where many folks were well to the right of center.

Not all colleges are anti gun. One college I worked at offered CCW classes taught by the campus police...on campus. Last year campus carry became legal in my state and at least 6 faculty members in my building said they would carry. An active shooter opening up on my campus may get a big surprise.

 

[Rule3]

Snowflake doesn't mean dumb....... more like those who expect to be sheltered from harsh realities of the real world.

..... IIRC back in the day Yale's Law School Grads had a relatively low % passing the NY or NJ(?) Bar Exam.. Pitt's pass rate in Pa was higher... the joke was that they would answer questions based on what they wanted the law to be not what it was!

I find that "offensive"!


Where would find more flakes. USC or Yale/Harvard"


What does '''snowflake''' mean, who are '''generation snowflake''' and what'''s the origin of the term?

 

[BAM-BAM]

I find that "offensive"!


Where would find more flakes. USC or Yale/Harvard"


Are you going to have a "melt down" here on a GUN forum??????

 

[dockmurgw]

Here's a typical day at Middlebury College. During this event, a faculty member was even assaulted. These are smart kids, worked hard to get to where they are, and they are snowflakes...they didnt agree with the guest speaker. And don't think for a minute that playing a Mel Brooks movie wouldn't generate the same reaction. Yea I know, we love our kids...doesnt mean they should be immune from criticism. Just click to get about 20 minutes into the video to see the blizzard.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6EASuhefeI[/ame]

 

[italiansport]

I worked at a university for several years and my experience was as follows: The Schools of Business and Engineering were practically devoid of Snowflakes both among the faculty and students. Some of the other schools - not so much!
Jim

 

[Sistema1927]

I was a freshman at UTEP the summer of 1974. I started classes the week after my HS graduation. I took political science that summer term, right in the middle of the Watergate hearings. Several of my fellow students were Vietnam vets who were going to school on the GI bill. It was a memorable experience.

As an Army brat whose Dad retired from active duty upon his return from Vietnam, I sat silent most of the semester while the professor, who had probably marched against the war, engaged in verbal judo with these battle hardened vets. Each and every one of these vets held their own against a rabidly liberal teacher.