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mouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. “So, I was just looking through all the schools when I went to apply. Harvard and Yale – you hear of those Ivy League schools, but not many others. I got to digging into some of the other schools, and I learned about Dartmouth and how it was different from the other schools in that it was in a rural area. It has that small-town feel – they say it’s the school in the woods,” he remarked. “It’s separated from everything and in nature. It’s just different from those other schools that are in a big city, and that interests me.”
He continued researching the University and found that it was not just the location that made it different, but several details and practices, such as the ten-week terms which classes revolve around rather than semesters. “All these different factors just started to interest me. So, I decided to apply, and then, I had an alumni interview. The alumnus was telling me about the school, and that's when I really thought, ‘This is a place I can really see myself.’” Gabbard said his interest in the school increased further after being admitted, as he grew in excitement and certainty that Darmouth was the next step in his educational journey. “I got into the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, and then, I got waitlisted but later accepted into Vanderbilt University, which at first, was my top pick,” he explained. “But I kind of switched up and decided to go to Dartmouth.”
He shared that once he was accepted into the College, his mind changed about Vanderbilt almost instantly, and that his decision was finalized after visiting the school. “The campus was amazing. The people were amazing. It just really sold it for me,” he added.
When asked if he felt any fear when applying to the school, Gabbard emphasized, “I’m super optimistic. I figured I would get into every school – it would all be fine. I just encourage someone to have that same mindset that you just assume that you are going to get into every school, then apply for one that you would have picked if you had gotten accepted into every school, because you never know. These days, college acceptance is a lottery. It’s so hard. But, you know, sometimes, you can have the winning ticket.”
He continued, “I got denied by just as many schools as I got accepted to. You may have the characteristics they are looking for in some schools; you may not, but it’s okay.”
He spoke about his decision to pursue a career in media and film, as he credited his audio video class for helping inspire him to pursue his passion. “At the high school, they have these career classes and pathways. So, I kind of tried everything. I started with construction – I figured I wanted to be a homeowner one day, so it would be good to learn how to be handy. Then, I went to a healthcare class. I took one semester of that and I could not do the blood. I was like, ‘This is not for me.’ We were watching surgeries and stuff, and I kept my eyes closed – I wasn’t watching. So, then, I tried an audio video class, and that’s something I really fell in love with – the process of creating and even the technical side of editing and filming. I just really liked the process,” he recalled.
After discovering his passion for filming, Gabbard worked to improve his craft, filming content for social media for his employer, Nutrition HQ, and in his own free time. “I love filmmaking, creating, and the editing process, and I thought it was something that I’d be interested in studying as my major,” he said. “I’m going to shoot to be a filmmaker, and if I fail, I’ll still have a degree. I will still have gone to Dartmouth. I can still land on my feet somewhere. But if I had that [play it safe] mindset with college admissions, I’d never go to Dartmouth – I’d stay with the safe route. I have never wanted to play the safe route, so I am going to take what I am passionate about and what I want to do, and I’m just going to run with it and roll with it. It’s not the safest career choice, but I guess it’s my optimism – I’ve never worried about that. I’m going to take what I want to do and chase it.”
“It's not an easy industry to get into, but I think Dartmouth will set me on the right path and give me the right connections. It’s one of those things where I might not graduate and then get to direct a movie. I'm probably going to have to work my way up. But just being a part of that – a big project – really interests me.
He shared his gratitude for his parents, who he said have helped encourage him along the way to pursue his passions and chase his dreams to write and direct movies. “My parents always set a good role for me and what it means to work hard. My parents are hardworking people. They've always set that standard for me in my life. So when it comes to something like trying to get into a competitive school, I have seen the example of the hard work it takes to achieve something, and I just have to match that example. Their saying that [anything is possible with hard work] in my life has helped me immensely, more than I'll be able to say or recognize,” Gabbard emphasized.
He also talked about his gratitude for Vidalia High School teachers and staff, such as Audio Video Teacher Corbin Howard and Counselor Chris Carroll.
“When I talk about getting that love for audio video, [Howard] is the one who kind of was there for me in the process and taught me that. He was amazing in that he helped a little bit, but also let me work on my own. He stood back a little bit and let me grow and learn by myself,” Gabbard explained. “I’m still great friends with him, and he definitely helped me kind of get along with that process and find my love for filming and media.
Gabbard continued, “Mr. Carroll helped me so much with admissions. It is a process, especially when you apply to multiple schools – it becomes a big thing. Someone like me, who has football going on while admission season is in full swing – it is a lot of stress. But he was always there, always excited to help me in any way that he could, whether it was getting transcripts sent off or writing recommendation letters. He was super helpful throughout that process.”
According to Gabbard, participating in Vidalia High School athletics has also prepared him for success at Dartmouth, as it has taught him how to handle stress, success, and defeat. “I think playing a sport is one of the hardest things you can do, especially in South Georgia when it's 90 degrees sometimes. But I think there's a lot of learning that goes with that – a lot of cooperation, and even some leadership. In my senior year, I had a lot of that going on,” he reflected. “I think that really prepares me because that's the same setting I would have if I was working on a movie one day, that same kind of camaraderie, that teamwork. And I think that really prepares me – just making me a tough student and helping me work with others is probably the two biggest things that sports have taught me.”
He shared that he had learned about how to handle failure through playing baseball, and felt that this skill will be one he carries for the rest of his life. “I've failed immensely with baseball, and everyone does. The greats — they fail 70% of the time. It's about how you bounce back. That really helps you. You know, I got declined by just as many schools as I got accepted by, but that failure helps you move on and learn and really rejoice when you do have success,” Gabbard said.
Yet, although he has enjoyed his time as a student athlete and the lessons that he learned in the process, Gabbard looks forward to being able to focus on his studies at Dartmouth without the addition of practicing a sport. “I put so much time and effort in being an athlete, but this is a place that's all about the academics and that environment. Everyone there is going to be very talented and very skilled. It's just going to be an environment where I can really push myself academically and have a time to focus on whatever interests I have and pursue that to the best of my ability,” he remarked.
When asked if he had any advice for younger students or underclassmen, Gabbard stressed the importance of pursuing your passions and making sure to stay true to yourself. “My advice would be don't try to chase a resume. Don't try to build yourself this big resume to get accepted to so-and-so school. Just live your life. Just work hard in whatever you do. If your interest is academically or, athletically. like mine was, or with other extracurriculars, just do that to the best of your abilities. In doing that, you will build your own resume. I never thought about, ‘Oh, what can I do so that in four years I can go to an Ivy League school?’ I never had that in my mind. I just thought, ‘This is what I enjoy – I'm going to work hard and do it with my best ability,’” Gabbard emphasized.
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by doing that, I built a resume that was competitive for an Ivy League school. So I would just say, you know, just take your interest and work hard in that and push yourself in that area and then have the courage to one day step out and apply to a school or maybe a job or enlist. I have some buddies that enlisted — went to the or applied for the Naval Academy, which is super competitive. Just put yourself out there for that and just be optimistic about that, but don't try to be someone you're not. Don't try to fit the mold for the Ivy League students – I don’t think that’s what the Ivy Leagues want. They want someone unique; they want someone with their own passions and desires.”
Gabbard stated that he hoped that he and his classmate Kingston Ryals’ acceptance into Ivy League schools inspired future Vidalia High School graduates to know that anything is possible.
“I just hope that people are encouraged. And maybe, you know, Kingston and I are an encouragement for more people from Vidalia and the surrounding areas to put themselves out there and apply to these Ivy League schools, because they're looking for students in the rural areas like us,” he emphasized. “There’s a need and desire for students, like Kingston and me, for the upcoming classes to go to these Ivy League schools and share our perspectives and experiences of Small Town Georgia. I think people have the capability – you just have to take the risk and the chance. The risk is worth the payoff.”
Gabbard will begin attending classes at Dartmouth College this upcoming fall, and looks forward to the many opportunities to come through this new adventure.
A UNIQUE IVY LEAGUE EXPERIENCE – One of the things that drew Justus Gabbard to Dartmouth College was the university’s uniqueness from other Ivy League schools, as it is not in a big city and runs on ten-week terms.
