And we all thought it would never come! Class of 2012 is officially upperclass now, with new privileges and new responsibilities to go with the rank. It's been quite the experience thus far, with tougher classes, more work and expectations given to us, and the same amount of time as we had before to get it all done. In addition to schoolwork we now have placed on us the responsibility of seeing to our plebes' military development, and it's mostly up to us how we accomplish this, what we teach them, and how often we interact with them to do so. Higher ranks means higher expectations; we set the example for the plebes, as they look to us first since we are the "intermediary" between them and the upper two classes. We're the first friendly face they meet in the Corps after they pass through the doors at Ike Hall to meet the Beast cadre for the first time. Our example shapes their first impressions of the standards expected of them during the school year, perhaps more so than even the rigors the Cows and Firsties put them through during Reorganization Week after Beast Marchback. The biggest problem that our class faces throughout the year, when it comes to dealing with plebes, is how tough to be. Do we set the standard and then enforce it uniformly, cracking down on every mistake we see; or do we let things slide by undealt with, expecting that someday down the road they'll straighten out, because we don't want to be the bad guy? The second year here at West Point holds probably the steepest learning curve for cadets, as they transition from being a follower to a leader for the first time. Much responsibility is heaped on us at once, and we must learn to juggle this with our new academic expectations. It is a fast-paced way to start our first role in leadership, but somehow we all manage to make it!