Aidan Radtke
Aidan Radtke ’22 writes. “I am currently a Senior at James Madison University. I have nothing but amazing things to say about this school and the people I am surrounded by everyday. I am a Computer Science Major, I am part of Army ROTC, and I am the President of my Fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi. To say the least, I love to keep myself busy. After I graduate, I will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. I plan on joining the infantry and spending a few years there, before switching over to the Cyber branch. I love being surrounded by like-minded, fit individuals. The infantry (especially amongst Officers) is filled with high-tempo people who are incredibly smart and extremely fit. Although I am working hard towards my Computer Science Major, I probably won’t touch computers for a few years after graduation.
Coming from Flint Hill and into college, I was so money hungry and thought that was the only important thing when choosing a career. I think a lot of students at Flint Hill think this way. I warn them to keep an open mind and value experiences over money. Do not chase money, if you work hard and are dedicated to getting really good at something, money will come.
When I plan my upcoming summer, I have had several offers for software-related internships that would pay me a lot of money. But, personally, I would rather go get paid to jump out of airplanes at airborne school, or learn how to repel out of helicopters at air assault school. Those are experiences and skills not many people get to experience, so I value that way more than a boring software position.
I hope Flint Hill is doing well. I remember my time there was pretty fun, however I wish students there would understand how much of a “bubble” they are really in. Northern Virginia is already a bubble of its own, filled with wealthy families, and some kids that grow up like that, think that their upbringing was completely normal, and forget they are lucky enough to be part of less than 1% of the American population who is lucky enough to attend a high school that costs fifty thousand dollars a year. Through my military experience over the past 3 years, I have met people who come from all over the world and have vastly different experiences and upbringings that I have had. I have several friends who are already married by 18 or 19. I have close friends who are a few years older than myself, I still reach out almost every day to a buddy of mine who is 32 with a wife and 4 kids. One of my favorite memories was from Basic Camp two summers ago where it was my bunkmate Mendiola’s daughter’s first birthday. Our drill sergeants gave us 3 minutes and all the guys in the barracks made a quick 1 minute video singing her a happy birthday. The Army is an amazing place because friendships like this are normal. I am so lucky to have met these people, they bring a unique perspective into my life that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
My advice to any current Flint Hill Student is the following:
Humble yourself. You are lucky enough to attend a private high school, do not ever brag about the money that you come from, you will sound unintelligent. In college (or the military), you will meet people from all over the country. You should appreciate these relationships as they have grown up in a much different way than you have.
I hope this was helpful, I plan on visiting Flint Hill at some point, maybe during my winter break I will stop by and say hello to whoever I still remember.”