Late one night while on deployment for the Army, William LaRose stumbled across the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs online and knew immediately it was the right fit for him.

After serving for four years, LaRose applied with help from Service to School, a veteran-run non-profit that provides application preparation to veterans. He is now serving with the New York National Guard while completing a master’s in public administration with a concentration in public and non-profit management.

Finding that being a student “is an entirely new lifestyle,” LaRose cites skills learned in the military as beneficial to his current endeavors: time management, coping with stress, and working with diverse teams of people. However, the abilities to prioritize and carry out a plan and listen to teammates, he says, have been the most useful during his time as a student.

LaRose encourages his fellow veterans to use their transferable military skills and pursue their academic interests, too: “Our country needs your leadership now more than ever, so shoot for that top program, study hard, and continue to serve the nation in whatever capacity you can.”

Read more about William LaRose in his Q&A graduate student spotlight.