Dear 'GMA' Advice Guru Top 20 Finalists: Scott Nimmer

Nov. 26, 2010 — -- Scott Nimmer from Liberty Township, Ohio, is a finalist in the Dear GMA Advice Guru Contest. Read his application below!

Dear GMA, I believe I am the perfect candidate for the GMA Advice Guru. As both a middle school and junior high school teacher, I have given my share of advice when it comes to all things adolescent. Whether it has been about what to wear, who to go out with, where to go, or how to complete an assignment, my advice has reached many students. This is only the tip of the iceberg of my advice background. Eighteen years of military experience as a first sergeant, supervisor, chief of operations, trainer, mentor, and air traffic controller have given me the opportunity to give advice in many circumstances not encountered in my years of teaching. This combination of education and military background gives me a unique ability to deal with a wide range of situations, from personal to professional and most of the gamut between. As a first sergeant in the Air Force it is my job to give the members of my unit advice on issues from housing to marital as well as giving my commander (boss) advice on how to deal with situations from recognition ceremonies to discipline proceedings. Lastly, not only do I have an education background, both a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in administration, and eighteen years of military advice experience, I am also known as the "mouth." For most of my life I have been told I have a voice for either radio or television. In all of my previous professions my voice has been used to command attention, whether as an air traffic controller or in a military formation, people listen to my voice. All of this makes me uniquely qualified and talented enough to be the GMA Advice Guru.

What's the best advice you have ever given? What was the result?

As a military leader and educator I have always given one sound piece of advice, "If you work hard good things will come to you." It may seem simple and non-original, but it is the honest truth. The result of this advice has been seen many times over, whether it was while serving in Afghanistan where an airman of mine wanted to know how to insure he would get promoted, or one of my students who wanted to know what they would need to do to get away from his life after high school. In the first case, the airman did work harder than anyone else and was rewarded with the promotion upon his return home. As for the student, I still hear from him from time to time, he is working hard and hopes to be in college, away from home, soon.