The Tinkerbell Effect

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

There is a moral to this blog entry for all the parents. It’s very simple. Believe in your kid. They are stronger than you think. By believing in them, you show your child that no matter the obstacle, they can succeed. Believe in them, and as a parent you will be rewarded over and over with your child achieving things that will blow you away.  

Last Sunday, we saw that Graham had been restricted from participating in basic training on that particular day. As we have zero contact with him during BCT, we had no idea what this meant. And that was the hardest thing of all, not knowing the ‘why’. And, we still don't know as we've not been in contact with him yet. 

So, I do what I always do when faced with something I need to work through in my head. I went for a run. Which always helps me think through life’s problems and challenges. Here's what I determined on that run. There were other cadets shown on crutches, wearing knee braces, or wearing a face mask due to an illness. They had not been turned back. They would not be keeping those kids around if they were expected to fully complete BCT. They'd be given a pat on the back, sent on their way and told to come back again and try next year. By the end of my run I had resolved to myself that Graham was going to be fine. He was going to get his shoulder boards on Acceptance Day and be welcomed officially into the Skyraiders squadron at the United States Air Force Academy. We just had to believe. And for some odd reason, I started to think about watching Peter Pan with him as a toddler.

The Tinkerbell effect is an expression describing things that are thought to exist only because people believe in them. The effect is named after Tinker Bell, the fairy in the play Peter Pan, who is revived from near death by the belief of the audience.

So, Jackie and I stopped worrying. We knew our kid. We just started to believe. Monday came, and there was no coverage of Hellcats. We still believed. Tuesday came, and there was no coverage as access to Jacks Valley was closed off to WebGuy coverage. We still believed. Later Tuesday night, Jackie and I went out to celebrate Graham and all his squadron making it through BCT and Jacks Valley. Because we believed.  

Dad celebrates Graham's achievement with a half-yard of German beer.

On Wednesday, the Class of 2022 marched back from Jacks Valley and assembled on the Terrazzo on the campus of for a special Airman’s Coin ceremony. Parents, USAFA graduates and friends were on hand to help celebrate. Two members of the Legacy Class, Class of 1972, were on hand for the event. The coin ceremony was hosted by USAFA Commandant Kristin Goodwin.  She challenged the Class of 2022 to adhere to the Academy’s core values — integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do — as each basic cadet begins their Academy journey and Air Force career. And there was Cadet Maas. Marching out of Jacks Valley and standing with his Hellcats squadron to receive his Airman’s coin.

Yup, there is Cadet Graham. See photo below for the red circle as reference.

Red circle is Graham.

Again, there is Cadet Graham. See photo below for the red circle as reference.

Red circle indicates Graham.

The Hellcats squadron, at the ceremony.

Yellow circle is Graham. 

We needed only to believe.

Note: The basic cadets officially become fourth-class cadets at the conclusion of the Acceptance Parade at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Stillman Parade Field.