SHOW NOTES:
This episode features Deanna Franzen, a 2010 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear why Deanna pivoted away from a lifelong dream of owning a dance studio to instead developing a desire to serve and join the military; how a small mistake her first year at the Academy altered the trajectory of her entire career; and how she’s used her clarity and determination to find her dream job as a lawyer back in her home state of Texas. Enjoy the show!
KEY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:
- Having a lifelong dream to own a dance studio
- Being impacted by 9/11
- Going to New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI)
- Joining Mock Trial by mistake and changing her career path as a result
- Becoming a Logistics Officer when that wasn’t what she wanted
- Pivoting towards a career in law
- Dealing with imposter syndrome
0:45 INTRODUCTION:
- Can you tell everyone where you’re from? What school you went to and when you graduated?
- Can you give everyone 1-2 lines about who you are?
1:38 PART I:
- What made you choose a Service Academy – and what made you specifically choose the U.S. Air Force Academy?
- Being confronted by a teacher her senior year of high school about options after graduation.
- Feeling behind the curve in applying to the Academies.
- Was there any military in your family?
- Did you visit the Air Force Academy when you decided it was where you wanted to go?
- Finding out she had a medical condition she wasn’t even aware of.
- Having to go to NMMI.
8:30 PART II:
- How did you feel about needing to go to NMMI?
- What did you want to do post graduation when you were applying to the Academies?
- What was it like at NMMI?
- If you had to sum up your time at the Academy in one world, what would it be?
- How was your first day at the Academy?
18:28 PART III:
- What happens when you enter the academic year? How does that go?
- What are some of the highlights of your time at the Academy?
- Getting involved in the mock trial club.
25:53 PART IV:
- At what time did the focus shift from being involved in languages?
- Other highlights of her time at the Academy.
- Are there any major lowlights of your time at the Academy?
- Dealing with imposter syndrome.
36:00 PART V:
- Dealing with a difficult roommate.
- How was life post-graduation?
- Finding her way in the field of logistics.
- Fulfilling her desire to serve.
46:00 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
- Tell me the path to how you got to today as a lawyer.
- Creating her own path to getting back to Texas and getting into law school.
- What’s next for you?
- How do you currently feel about your decision to attend an Academy?
- Do you have any parting words for listeners? Perhaps a key message to your fellow Service Academy sisters?
- What’s one random fun fact about you?
- Where can people reach you?
Email: DeannaFranzen@gmail.com
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