OTC is delighted to share this message from Student Ambassador Marin Nielsen to our incoming students.
I’m Marin Nielsen and I graduated from Rolla High School in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. I began my education here at OTC last fall and have fallen in love with this school.
I want all OTC students to know that there is no limit to success here. There are tons of resources and people that will help you go further than you ever imagined. OTC offers never-ending possibilities when it comes to learning something new, and no goal is unachievable here.
When starting out, I encourage you to go out of your comfort zone! Introduce yourself to the people you sit next to and get involved on campus early. When I first started out, I was very shy and didn’t spend much time on campus at all. This made it hard for me to find friends and feel like I belonged here.
In my second semester, I started talking to people and being more active at school, and this has made a huge impact on my mood and success! When I was more involved on campus, I felt more like I belonged, my grades started to improve, and I even made some friends!
My biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid. Even though we are all different, there’s a lot of us doing this for the first time too. Here at OTC, you are never alone. Don’t be afraid to talk to your instructors and peers — I promise that it will only benefit you in the long run.
I am heading into my last year at OTC and am on track to graduate this May with an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting and Business Management. After graduation, I plan on attending Paul Mitchell and earning my full-service cosmetology license. Once I have my credentials in business and cosmetology, I can then work toward opening my own salon and working for myself.
Your dreams can come true too. Welcome to OTC!
Marin Nielsen
Student Ambassador