The Ocean Is Made Of Drops

I often get asked: what inspired you to learn photography (the 'dark ages' & boredom), why did you join the Navy (a Marine said I couldn't), or why did you jump out of perfectly good airplanes (there is no such thing as "perfectly good" anything in the military.)

What inspires us to learn something new?

What moves us to emulate others? Can we really pinpoint which seed of opportunity resulted in where we are today, or where we want to be tomorrow?

As parents, teachers, community leaders, and even small business owners, it is our duty to encourage and inspire tomorrow's generation. Even the smallest drop of knowledge might lead to a significant result.

                        "The Ocean Is Made of Drops"

                                         - Mother Teresa

In 1958, The Navy League of the United States founded the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The Corps is a congressionally chartered, U.S. Navy-sponsored organization that serves to teach youth about the sea-going military services, U.S. naval operations and training, community service, citizenship, and an understanding of discipline and teamwork.

I served over three decades in the US Navy and rarely, if at all, have I really interacted with this organization until recently when I was invited to give a presentation about how I use my drone in my small business. 

Always eager to pay it forward, I immediately accepted the invitation from a Richmond-based Sea Cadet unit. This was an opportunity to inspire the future generation as they studied drone-related technology and applications.

As we drew closer to the early November date, I realized it would be a pretty short presentation once I revealed how little I actually fly my drone for my business; I live in the heart of restricted DC airspace, and it had been over a year since I took an aerial picture and it was in another state. 

What could this 'old salt' possibly say to keep a group of 10-18 years engaged? Would they even laugh at my corny jokes?

Since the requested date coincided with my one of my sons returning home briefly from the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), I figured I would expand the presentation to include a Midshipman (you know someone closer in age to the audience!)

The addition of said Midshipman was a hit. Of the five federal service academies, it was pretty clear that most of our audience didn't have a clue where Kings Point was. By the end of the presentation, the Sea Cadets had received a brief overview of how I used my drone (when I wasn't in DC), how to prepare academically to apply to the US Naval Academy (my Alma Mater) and lastly, a first hand account of what life was like as a Midshipman at the US Merchant Marine Academy.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” 

- Theodore Roosevelt