The Short Version
Howdy! My name is Ryan Bietz and I'm from Cypress, Texas, now living in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm a Senior Economics major. I'm a part of Squadron Six in the Corps of Cadets. I'm on scholarship to commission as an officer in the United States Air Force in May 2023.
The Long Version
I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania shortly before moving to Alabama at age 1 and then Atlanta, Georgia at age 6. That phase of my life is exceptionally fuzzy due to it occurring so long ago. In elementary school, I started playing basketball, and I loved every bit of it from start to finish; but more on that later. I was identified as a candidate for the Horizons (gifted) program at age 7, and entered shortly after. There, I met two of the best teachers I would ever have, Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Carnaroli, who truly unlocked my talents and abilities as an individual. I entered middle school with few problems, if any. I started DJing recreationally around this time, occasionally earning a few hundred dollars for a quick gig. However, during the summer after 7th grade, I moved to Texas, at age 14.
In Texas, I was miserable at first. I had zero friends, and the friends that I did eventually have emotionally abused me. I still had basketball and DJing though, and that gave me some comfort.
10th grade was a pivotal time in my life. I started making actual friends, I went out with my first girlfriend, I started seriously considering joining the military, and I didn’t make the school basketball team. However, that wasn’t it for basketball – I asked to be a manager, and was graciously given the position. There, I worked incredibly hard to make sure that I made an impact, and I did. I essentially became the assistant coach, earning immense respect from all of the coaches and players through all that I did. I kept stats, helped in practice, motivated the players, and analyzed every bit of the game that I could. I completely transformed the position of manager at my high school, and loved every second of it.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school. I started applying to colleges and scholarships, one of which was the Air Force ROTC scholarship. Through this, the Air Force pays off your entire college tuition in exchange for 5 years of your service afterwards. I was not in good physical condition, however, and one of the assessments was physical fitness. I started seriously working out in the fall, and took the assessment in January. I failed the test for the Air Force Academy, but I passed the AFROTC test, and ended up being offered the scholarship. Thus, I am now attending Texas A&M because of it, and will commission in the U.S. Air Force in the summer of 2023.
Since I began attending college, I've become involved in Arnold Air Society, the Corps of Cadets Men's Basketball Team, and University Honors as a sophomore advisor. In Squadron Six, I've become the Logistics Officer, and in AFROTC, I've become the Wing Director of Staff.
In Texas, I was miserable at first. I had zero friends, and the friends that I did eventually have emotionally abused me. I still had basketball and DJing though, and that gave me some comfort.
10th grade was a pivotal time in my life. I started making actual friends, I went out with my first girlfriend, I started seriously considering joining the military, and I didn’t make the school basketball team. However, that wasn’t it for basketball – I asked to be a manager, and was graciously given the position. There, I worked incredibly hard to make sure that I made an impact, and I did. I essentially became the assistant coach, earning immense respect from all of the coaches and players through all that I did. I kept stats, helped in practice, motivated the players, and analyzed every bit of the game that I could. I completely transformed the position of manager at my high school, and loved every second of it.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school. I started applying to colleges and scholarships, one of which was the Air Force ROTC scholarship. Through this, the Air Force pays off your entire college tuition in exchange for 5 years of your service afterwards. I was not in good physical condition, however, and one of the assessments was physical fitness. I started seriously working out in the fall, and took the assessment in January. I failed the test for the Air Force Academy, but I passed the AFROTC test, and ended up being offered the scholarship. Thus, I am now attending Texas A&M because of it, and will commission in the U.S. Air Force in the summer of 2023.
Since I began attending college, I've become involved in Arnold Air Society, the Corps of Cadets Men's Basketball Team, and University Honors as a sophomore advisor. In Squadron Six, I've become the Logistics Officer, and in AFROTC, I've become the Wing Director of Staff.