Rebecca Grimesey– From the Air Force to UNC- Chapel Hill!
Tell us about yourself, Rebecca!
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Fun Fact About Yourself: Birds do not like me. I have been bitten by an ostrich, swarmed by vultures, pursued on foot by a macaw, and dive-bombed by a pair of mockingbirds.
What did you do in the military: Intelligence Analyst
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? I had the opportunity to lead a cell comprised of a diverse group of service members from across the Department of Defense intelligence entities and civilians from several government agencies. We met one another for the first time at our forward-deployed location and quickly gelled into a highly functioning entity. This enabled us to accomplish our mission and leave a lasting positive influence on the region’s security situation.
School and Intended Degree: UNC-Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Science in Economics
Why did you decide to pursue higher education? As an intelligence analyst, I observed the dichotomy between poor and sound economic policy and how it affected regional security and the people who lived there.
What are your goals post-graduation? I will continue to make a lasting positive impact on society and the planet. To do that, I’ll pursue an MBA program at a leading institution. After graduate school, I plan to recruit for consulting and aspire to work at the intersection of public and private sustainability.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting school? What’s your favorite part about the school you chose to matriculate at? I look forward to the opportunity to enroll as a full-time student and focus solely on my intellectual growth. What draws me to UNC-Chapel Hill is our nation’s first public university’s academic excellence, coupled with the distinguished Carolina faculty, a student body bubbling with ambition, and the unsurpassed Tarheel alumni network.
How has the transition been from the military to civilian life? My transition is ongoing; however, the skills, experiences, and opportunities I benefitted from in the military primed me to change my trajectory and look for opportunities to make a difference as a civilian. My journey to leave a positive generational impact will continue with the world-class education afforded through UNC-Chapel Hill.
What was the biggest benefit to using Service to School throughout the application process? My S2S mentor was accepted into UNC-Chapel Hill years before; he had first-hand knowledge to help me navigate the application process by providing lessons learned from his experience, proofread my essays, and provided me with constructive feedback and ample positive encouragement.
Rebecca’s advice for future veteran applicants:
Do not self-eliminate and dare to try. Formulate your transition goals early, even years in advance. Give yourself plenty of time to deliberately plan, execute with discipline, and practice confidence in advocating for yourself. No one will be as invested in your future as you are.
