Colten Adams
- 2017 Cohort
- Hometown: Orchard, Nebraska
- High School: Creighton Community High School
Additional Information
Senior Reflections
What are your ultimate career goals?
Ultimately, I plan to build a private equity company that purchases commercial multifamily properties through a real estate fund. Because I have a background in the trades, I plan to specifically target value-add opportunities and hire contractors to bring once ignored properties back to life. Once the company has several units under management, I will build out the property management department to also manage properties for other investors. I will also start a creative media company that specializes in photography, video, and drone work. I have always had a passion for the creatives, including photography.
What will you miss the most about the Scholars Academy?
There are a lot of things I will miss about the Scholars Academy. I think being surrounded by so many people my age with the same drive to succeed is something I will miss. There are not many places I have experienced a culture where everyone wants to help each other to do the best they can. While there was definitely competition between the members, it only helped everyone to push themselves even further. There are a lot of clubs, groups, or workplaces where the culture is very passive and people go through the motions, but the Scholars Academy is not one of those places.
What advice do you have for current Scholars?
My biggest advice for current scholars is to get as much experience under your belt as you can. If I could go back, I would have tried to get a different internship every year. This would have significantly set me apart from all of my peers and expanded my network even more than it is now. Another piece of advice is to try and reach out to as many business professionals as you can who are related to your desired work field. I have messaged several business professionals on LinkedIn, none of which I knew beforehand, and met with them to get coffee. Through those people, I have met numerous other professionals and even received job offers.
What is your favorite quote? Why?
"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space." - Johnny Cash
This is my favorite quote because it describes, in my opinion, the best way to go about life. We are all bound to make mistakes and fail, but the real test comes after. What we decide to do after a mistake determines our success. It is important not to forget about past mistakes because they allow us to build higher and learn. The most successful people have not only made the most mistakes, but have tweaked the way they did things because of them.
Additional Information
Senior Reflections
What are your ultimate career goals?
Ultimately, I plan to build a private equity company that purchases commercial multifamily properties through a real estate fund. Because I have a background in the trades, I plan to specifically target value-add opportunities and hire contractors to bring once ignored properties back to life. Once the company has several units under management, I will build out the property management department to also manage properties for other investors. I will also start a creative media company that specializes in photography, video, and drone work. I have always had a passion for the creatives, including photography.
What will you miss the most about the Scholars Academy?
There are a lot of things I will miss about the Scholars Academy. I think being surrounded by so many people my age with the same drive to succeed is something I will miss. There are not many places I have experienced a culture where everyone wants to help each other to do the best they can. While there was definitely competition between the members, it only helped everyone to push themselves even further. There are a lot of clubs, groups, or workplaces where the culture is very passive and people go through the motions, but the Scholars Academy is not one of those places.
What advice do you have for current Scholars?
My biggest advice for current scholars is to get as much experience under your belt as you can. If I could go back, I would have tried to get a different internship every year. This would have significantly set me apart from all of my peers and expanded my network even more than it is now. Another piece of advice is to try and reach out to as many business professionals as you can who are related to your desired work field. I have messaged several business professionals on LinkedIn, none of which I knew beforehand, and met with them to get coffee. Through those people, I have met numerous other professionals and even received job offers.
What is your favorite quote? Why?
"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space." - Johnny Cash
This is my favorite quote because it describes, in my opinion, the best way to go about life. We are all bound to make mistakes and fail, but the real test comes after. What we decide to do after a mistake determines our success. It is important not to forget about past mistakes because they allow us to build higher and learn. The most successful people have not only made the most mistakes, but have tweaked the way they did things because of them.