Getting value of select (dropdown) before change

Answer 1

(function() {

    var value = $('[name=request_status]').change(function() {
        if (confirm('You are about to update the status of this request, please confirm')) {
            $(this).closest('form').submit(); // submit the form
        }else {
            $(this).val(value); // set the value back
        }
    }).val();
})();