Although I was not medically DQ'd last year, I was put on the waiting list. Let me tell you what I did during the time to earn an appointment this year.
First, I got a job doing construction in Hawaii. There I worked 55-65hrs a week. I earned enough for my first year of college, but my parents were great and helped me out for my first year. This shows the Academy that I know how to work and sacrifice - this experience definitely molded my character, and will especially help me face the rigors of a arduous boot camp.
Second, my family unfortunately makes too much for me to compete for most scholarships, so I busted my rear off my first year at college, and will finish with a 3.91 cumulative GPA at Brigham Young University. This automatically qualifies me for a full scholarship in my major. The point I make here is, the academy and congressmen want to know you are serious scholastically, and that you have the motivation to see that academy experience through... I don't have anything to gain financially by going to the Academy (make more in Hawaii than the monthly pay, and I could be in Dental school within two years due to previous credits), and the congressional panel that interviewed me understood that I was willing to sacrifice that, because I truly want to serve OUR country as an officer in the Air Force as a medical or financial officer (unless I get a pilot waiver
).
Also, I dedicated time each week to tutor children at a local community learned center for struggling children. You will not be able to find leadership positions as a freshman, but you can show dedication and initiative by providing dependable (weekly) community service - attributes that are vital for successful leadership.
If you really want this, then seize these next couple of months as your final opportunity to compete for an appointment - if you don't get it, than know that you pushed yourself to be the best person possible, and imagine what you'd be like if you hadn't strived for it. If for some reason I get DQ'd at I-day, I can still go back to BYU with a full tuition scholarship, and a job waiting for me in Hawaii... imagine if I had taken the summer off and screwed off my first year - I wouldn't have an appointment, I wouldn't have a scholarship, I wouldn't have any construction skills, and I wouldn't be looking at Dental School. Count your blessings.
Last thing, because you have to make the Air Force want you, strive for a principle nomination from your congressmen - this is honestly your best shot. The panel remembered me from last year, and when they saw me ace advanced collegiate class in calculus, physics, political science, biology, United States History, nutrition, statistics, etc... and do well, they knew how badly I wanted it, and they rewarded my ambition. This might not be true in all districts, but that was the game plan that I adopted, and it panned out well for me. I suggest you do the same - work really hard, run your buns off (I lost 42 pounds that summer), and find something that either relaxes you or keeps you fired up (for me it was dating, snowboarding, and taking golf and basketball classes)... you have to be extremely balanced to maintain high levels of success. I hope this helps, this post was kind of personal to me... I've spent a lot of nights on my knees asking God for this opportunity, and now I feel far more confident that I can compete and succeed at the Air Force Academy. This is your opportunity; seize it. No matter what, your life will be better off. Good Luck! If you have any questions, just PM me.
