Going Navy and loving it
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3868/1/Going-Navy-and-loving-it/Page1.html
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom
Published on 06/25/2009
What if you were a 13-year-old Cordova Middle School student and the U.S. Naval Academy handed you an invitation to spend six days at its Summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) Program in Maryland?
Going Navy and loving it
by Harrison Alexander Morrow
Special to the Tri-State Defender
What if you were a 13-year-old Cordova Middle School student and the U.S. Naval Academy handed you an invitation to spend six days at its Summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) Program in Maryland?
That is just what happened to Harrison Alexander Morrow. The Tri-State Defender asked him to share his experience, starting at the beginning.
He agreed.
How I got involved?
Mr. Willie Rhodes, area superintendent with Memphis City Schools, and my mother, Mary Brooks, told me about the U.S. Naval Academy Summer S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program. We researched the requirements and I met the qualifications. I had to make good grades in math and science.
On April 28th, I received my acceptance letter and itinerary. I was very excited especially when I learned I was going to Maryland for about 6 days (June 15-20). I was also feeling a lot of pressure because I thought I would have to represent Memphis by myself. I did learn that Memphis had about 20 students of the 200 from across the U.S. attending the camp.
How did I prepare for camp?
I did not have to do anything to prepare for camp. I wanted to look my best, so I did go shopping for clothes and I also picked up some snacks.
What I expected?
When I received the acceptance letter, it stated we would have to do lots of outdoor activities and exercise. I thought we were going to exercise, go on a ship out to sea, and Navy stuff. I took the liberty of doing 10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups, and 10 sit-ups, to get a little exercise. I actually believed it was going to be fun, but work would be required, hard work.
What I actually experienced?
On the day we arrived at the Naval Academy, everyone from Memphis checked in and then we moved into a huge building with about 50-80 students from around the country. The Command Master Chief came in and we all chanted, “Go Navy, Beat Army.” That is the motto of the Navy. We then went to our room and I met my two roommates. One was from Georgia, the other from Nebraska. They were very nice and we became friends immediately.
This is what we did in class:
• Cool Chemistry II – how airplanes fly, lift & attack;
• 3D Simulation – analyzed a murder case;
• Cryptography - encrypted special codes onto objects (numbers & letters)
We also had a talent show on Friday night and that’s when everyone found out I could dance.
What I have learned
In the time that I was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy, I’ve learned much about what they do, and I’m considering going to college there. After you finish college there, you have to serve 5 years in either the Navy or the Marines.
We did quite a bit. We visited the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. We had a great time looking around and taking pictures. I finally got to see the Hope Diamond. It’s so beautiful and amazing. Though it may not be big, it’s very remarkable.
We also got to see a giant squid/octopus, dinosaur bones … many glow in the dark crystals and just other different kinds. Then, my group went outside into the place everybody calls the mall, and we walked from there to the Washington Memorial. I left a Cheez-it® there to see if it would be there in a few years.
We walked all the way back, and surprisingly, I wasn’t tired. We all talked and had a great time, and then we left. I learned how to use a solder iron, and how to make a bouncy ball out of glue, dish-washing detergent and water. We also had a technology fair, which is when we showed all the parents and other people one of the things that we learned. I was happy that my mom, dad, brother and cousin had an opportunity to attend the fair. My group chose to present a wing and tell the people about how the wing of a plane works and how a plane flies.
Just being there has taught me responsibility. I had a big suitcase I had to keep up with, and all my stuff had to fit inside the suitcase. I do feel proud because of my actions while I was there. All of my counselors stated that they would recommend me to come back next year. Thanks to them, I could be coming back.
I do thank God that I have made it back safely and in one piece. This is the story of my trip. I would like to thank Mr. Cory Dickerson and Ms. Barbara Beloch (our chaperones from Memphis City Schools) for all they’ve done and for being there with and for us while our parents weren’t.
Special to the Tri-State Defender
 |
| Harrison Alexander Morrow |
That is just what happened to Harrison Alexander Morrow. The Tri-State Defender asked him to share his experience, starting at the beginning.
He agreed.
How I got involved?
Mr. Willie Rhodes, area superintendent with Memphis City Schools, and my mother, Mary Brooks, told me about the U.S. Naval Academy Summer S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program. We researched the requirements and I met the qualifications. I had to make good grades in math and science.
On April 28th, I received my acceptance letter and itinerary. I was very excited especially when I learned I was going to Maryland for about 6 days (June 15-20). I was also feeling a lot of pressure because I thought I would have to represent Memphis by myself. I did learn that Memphis had about 20 students of the 200 from across the U.S. attending the camp.
How did I prepare for camp?
I did not have to do anything to prepare for camp. I wanted to look my best, so I did go shopping for clothes and I also picked up some snacks.
What I expected?
When I received the acceptance letter, it stated we would have to do lots of outdoor activities and exercise. I thought we were going to exercise, go on a ship out to sea, and Navy stuff. I took the liberty of doing 10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups, and 10 sit-ups, to get a little exercise. I actually believed it was going to be fun, but work would be required, hard work.
What I actually experienced?
On the day we arrived at the Naval Academy, everyone from Memphis checked in and then we moved into a huge building with about 50-80 students from around the country. The Command Master Chief came in and we all chanted, “Go Navy, Beat Army.” That is the motto of the Navy. We then went to our room and I met my two roommates. One was from Georgia, the other from Nebraska. They were very nice and we became friends immediately.
This is what we did in class:
• Cool Chemistry II – how airplanes fly, lift & attack;
• 3D Simulation – analyzed a murder case;
• Cryptography - encrypted special codes onto objects (numbers & letters)
We also had a talent show on Friday night and that’s when everyone found out I could dance.
What I have learned
In the time that I was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy, I’ve learned much about what they do, and I’m considering going to college there. After you finish college there, you have to serve 5 years in either the Navy or the Marines.
We did quite a bit. We visited the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. We had a great time looking around and taking pictures. I finally got to see the Hope Diamond. It’s so beautiful and amazing. Though it may not be big, it’s very remarkable.
We also got to see a giant squid/octopus, dinosaur bones … many glow in the dark crystals and just other different kinds. Then, my group went outside into the place everybody calls the mall, and we walked from there to the Washington Memorial. I left a Cheez-it® there to see if it would be there in a few years.
We walked all the way back, and surprisingly, I wasn’t tired. We all talked and had a great time, and then we left. I learned how to use a solder iron, and how to make a bouncy ball out of glue, dish-washing detergent and water. We also had a technology fair, which is when we showed all the parents and other people one of the things that we learned. I was happy that my mom, dad, brother and cousin had an opportunity to attend the fair. My group chose to present a wing and tell the people about how the wing of a plane works and how a plane flies.
Just being there has taught me responsibility. I had a big suitcase I had to keep up with, and all my stuff had to fit inside the suitcase. I do feel proud because of my actions while I was there. All of my counselors stated that they would recommend me to come back next year. Thanks to them, I could be coming back.
I do thank God that I have made it back safely and in one piece. This is the story of my trip. I would like to thank Mr. Cory Dickerson and Ms. Barbara Beloch (our chaperones from Memphis City Schools) for all they’ve done and for being there with and for us while our parents weren’t.