This veteran’s advice for her fellow former service members considering George Mason? Do it!

The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy Gale said it first: "There's no place like home." Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)student Becca Simon, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, has no doubt she's found her home in the College of Public Health at George Mason University.

"Coming out of the military, you leave one community, and you don't really know where to go from there, and it can feel very isolatingand very lonely. To makenew connections with people can be terrifying. And instead, I found a home in a community. I would venture to say that it's been life-changing," said Simon.

Simon describes the transition from military to civilian as challenging, but with support from the Office of Military Services, says George Mason's unparalleled dedication to veterans deserves its ranking as a top university for veterans in the country.

"I don't think I spoke to anybody in [the Office of Military Services] that wasn't helpful or willing to find answers if they didn't know. They're up to date on things with Veterans Affairs, andjust being so welcoming about coming out from the military and becoming a full-time student," she said. "New things can be scary and confusing and overwhelming, and they definitely made it easy for me to understand what was required of me, the documents that we needed, and just made the application process much smoother."

During her time in the Navy, Simon worked as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, where she regularly interacted with social workers. When searching for where to get her education, she wanted an institution that aligned with her admiration for how social workers approach mental health, conflict resolution, and addressing trauma.

"Most of those people that I admired were social workers, so I started, you know, really asking myself, well, what did I want to do. What direction did I want to go in? Many of the survivor advocates were social workers, and it ignited something that made me think, 'I wannado more with this when I get out of the military.' It's amazing to be surrounded by people who want to be social workers, who are passionate about the future of social work in this country," Simon said, who intends to pursue her Master of Social Work here at the college after completing her BSW in 2027.

When asked who her favorite instructor has been so far, Simon explained there was no way to choose. "I adore them all," she said. "There's something about each and everyone that is my favorite. They're all just incredible human beings and incredible at what they do."

Simon has very straightforward advice for her fellow veterans considering George Mason. Two words: Do it!

"You will find your place here, you'll find a home here, you'll find where you belong."