This is going to sound gay but honestly I think that every cadet should wake up every day grateful for the opportunity they’ve received. You’ve been given more scholarships than most kids could dream of, literally get paid to go to school and drink, and have a guaranteed job when you graduate.

I personally would either be a E-3 in some bumfuck town or I’d be working the oilfield if it wasn’t for ROTC. I didn’t even consider applying until several of my relatives bitched me out for looking at enlisting in the guard and going to trade school instead of applying for a scholarship. The army gave me a opportunity to escape a impoverished and violence ridden town and I’m grateful every day for that. It also gave me financial access to an education I otherwise would not be able to obtain.

Side note: if you’re not experiencing college while in ROTC idk what you’re doing. I balance engineering classes, ranger challenge, club track, and a fraternity and I still have a solid social life. It’s entirely doable but it takes a degree of planning and discipline that most college students probably don’t have.

Also, wait 2.5 years after you commission and go to selection/rasp. That shits entirely doable with enough preparation and drive.