Samuel Gidding Research Paper

Blue and Gold in His Blood

Children often dream of growing up to be superheros, ballerinas or firemen, but Samuel L. Giddings always knew he wanted to be a Naval Academy Midshipman. Currently second class at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, the twenty-year-old is pursuing an Operations Research major. He hopes to be a Surface Warfare officer after his graduation in 2017.
Giddings grew up with a family full of experience in the armed forces. “I lived at the Academy”, he said, referring to not only the amount of time he spent on base, but also the influence of his parents. His mother, Allison Webster-Giddings, a 1984 Naval Academy graduate, spent nineteen years as an aviator in the US Navy and now teaches in the Systems Engineering department
He began his music career playing the piano, but “never did any of the lessons”, he said. He soon switched his focus to the bagpipes and found immense passion in both playing and teaching. “I love the sound it makes”, he said, “If I know I can create something beautiful, I chase mercilessly for it”. He now plays with the Naval Academy Pipes and Drums band and teaches newcomers, or “the babies”, as he puts it, how to play.
Giddings played both water polo and bagpipes through much of his youth and helped define him as a person “Wearing a speedo and a kilt allowed him to become comfortable with himself”, his sister, Sydney, teased. These skills also proved very helpful when Giddings applied for colleges. He had a specific list of requirements while searching for the right school. “I wanted a good engineering program, a water polo scholarship and to play bagpipes”, he said. He ultimately chose The Naval Academy, as it fit all his requirements and eliminated the issue of tuition. “Everything worked”, he said “It all came together”. He initially explored the idea of transferring after two years, but ultimately decided to complete all
After a brutal, boot camp-esque summer, Giddings was let down by his teammates. “It was a team sport, and I was rejected by the team”. Giddings chose to focus more on his music and academics, he stopped playing after the first semester.
His grades also posed an issue. Giddings spent many saturday nights stuck on base because of academic restriction. He since salvaged his grades and is successfully handling the demands of a operations research major. After serious hesitation this past spring, Giddings decided that he was truly meant for a life in the Navy. He signed the “2 for 7” contract this past august, that mandates graduation from the Academy and five subsequent years of service. “I realized I wanted to lead people”, he said, “It made me happy”. Giddings’ sister agreed and stated that “Sam was already a leader, but really began to take on that role at the Academy”.
The life he always knew he would have is living up to Giddings’ expectations. The Academy changed him both physically and mentally as well as prepared him for the time he will spend in the fleet. With big shoes to fill, Giddings will soon graduate from The Naval Academy and go on to be one of the honorable men and women serving their