From the Marines to New Rigors in Business School

I worked for a software company for a year after college graduation, but I knew I wanted something more out of my career. I considered teaching or joining the Peace Corps, but I had family that had been in the Marines and it seemed like the best fit for me. I joined in 2001.

I met my husband, Kealoha, in the Marines, and we were married a year later. Each of us was deployed to Iraq twice. I was working in a combat service-support unit, and he was in one of the infantry units I was supporting. As our three-and-a-half-year commitment neared an end, we decided we wanted to see more of each other and do other things.

I wanted to return to the business world. One of my platoon commanders had gone to Harvard Business School, and although applying to a master's program had never occurred to me -- let alone applying to one at Harvard -- it sounded like a good way to make the transition. I was accepted and started classes last September. I wouldn't be here if not for the leadership training I got in the Corps -- it was definitely worth it.

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Harvard isn't cheap. Total costs are about $76,000 a year for the two-year program. Tuition is $38,000, and the rest goes for fees and living expenses. The GI Bill covers $10,600 per academic year, and I have fellowship money from an alumnus who wanted to support a Marine. Student loans help cover the remaining $50,000, including living expenses, and Kealoha is substitute teaching for now.

I'm interested in working as an entrepreneur in emerging markets -- perhaps in Iraq, Afghanistan or Eastern Europe. I see a lot of opportunities in places that need help in many industries. I want to work with my husband, and because we don't have kids yet or big responsibilities, it would be a good time for us to live abroad.

We want to find jobs we enjoy. Life is so precious and time is so short -- starting salary isn't what I'm trying to maximize. Once I'm out of school, if paying back the loans is all we have to worry about, we'll be pretty well off.

-- As told to Jessica Anderson