Student spotlight: Nicholas Leppellere, general education with math emphasis, found passion for math
Hometown: Great Falls, MT
Why At 黑料网911?
I chose At 黑料网911 because it was nearby 鈥� and they had a program (Connections 101 through Great Falls Public Schools鈥� Career and College Readiness Center) where they can just help you learn to study… And my experience with school wasn’t that great, so I was nervous about it, but I was willing just to step in since it was a free program.
What changed between high school and college?
High school was difficult for me because I didn’t enjoy it yet because I didn’t have the drive of why I should enjoy it. After working for a few years (after high school), I realized more about what life is like, and it gave me a realization of the potential for what school could give me and the benefits I could actually have from getting a degree. So it gave me a desire to want to do it. And when that happened, I actually began to do well because I began trying.
You are planning to transfer & are looking into engineering. How did you decide on those paths?
I didn’t come (to GFCMSU) with the intention of doing a lot of math or really doing math at all. They had this Connections program at the school, and they offered it as a free program. You could come and you don’t even have to commit to the semester… And I began to do well鈥nd when I started getting good scores 鈥� on my tests, I realized that I could understand the material by studying hard. I realized that I had that ability to do well, it made me realize that I had just told myself I wasn’t good enough, but in reality I just wasn’t trying previously. So now that I wanted it, I was going for it, and I was getting the results.
What are your future plans/goals?
I cannot say 100% what engineering I’ll go into, or if that even is what I’ll do. But it’s what I’m aiming for. I’m going to take an intro class next semester to civil engineering, and that’s my biggest interest right now.
How prepared do you feel to pursue an engineering degree?
Yeah, I definitely got a solid foundation, especially in math鈥� I know that it’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be hard, but I think that I have the skills necessary to do it.
Did you use any support services that the college offers?
Yeah, I went to the tutoring center a lot… It helped me a lot.
Other than math, are there other classes that stood out?
I took public speaking. I also took Intro to Business and 鈥� I’m taking an art class right now. And the public speaking class was definitely my favorite. I liked how it really taught me some skills that I will be able to continue and take with me. I even did a speech at the school later that semester (at the Otter Voices Speech Symposium) because I really enjoyed doing it.
What鈥檚 the most interesting job you have ever had?
Being an extra (in tv/movie productions) probably was the most interesting job because it’s very unusual. Most people have not done that or even know that it’s a possibility.
How many shows or movies did you work on as an extra?
I don’t know how many. It was a lot. They would just call us with the show that they had that they were offering that they needed people for… And I went to a lot. I didn’t do it full time, but I was really little, and I did it just for a season of life.
What are your interests outside of school?
Fishing is usually my go-to. I like to ice fish in the winter and just fish rivers in the summer and fall.