Rebecca Turley

“I ran out of financial aid due to having earned one prior degree and a decent amount of loans out already. Metro College was the only way I could achieve my goal of being an attorney,” said Rebecca Turley who graduated from the University of Louisville (UofL) in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “If I had considered Metro College when I was getting out of high school I would have started then, because the benefit of being debt free would be amazing.”

Rebecca, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, graduated from Henry Clay High School and earned an associate degree before joining the Metropolitan College program in Spring 2019.

While balancing a third shift work schedule as an administrative assistant at UPS Worldport, Rebecca was actively involved on campus and in the community. Rebecca participated in the UofL Criminal Justice Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE) student organization serving as secretary in 2019-2020 and vice-president for 2020-2021.

As LAE secretary, Rebecca played a major role in maintaining the membership list and tracking the service hours for each member as well as recording meeting minutes. Rebecca was present at all the membership meetings, lunch and learns, and sponsored LAE events.

As LAE vice-president, Rebecca was active in the virtual leadership of the organization during the pandemic. One of the highlights of Rebecca’s time at UofL was being nominated by LAE for UofL Homecoming Queen and placing in the top 10.

Outside of participating with LAE, Rebecca found time to be a CASA Advocate serving as a court-appointed special advocate volunteer helping to make a life-changing difference for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Each CASA Advocate volunteer is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child's best interest in court.

Other co-curricular involvement at UofL included the Black Student Union (BSU), College Mentors for Kids (CMFK), Empowering Ladies Together (ELT), Shades, and Sisters United. Learn more about each of these student organizations at louisville.edu/involvement/student-organizations.

All of these collective co-curricular experiences demonstrate Rebecca’s passion and commitment to public service in the criminal justice system. For this reason, in the spring of 2021, Rebecca received a nomination for the 2021 Outstanding Metropolitan College Student Award, an award that recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, work-life balance, and academic success.

“When I was younger, I always wanted to be a lawyer, but I did not have the easiest upbringing. I want to be a part of improving the criminal justice system and helping those that have been wrongfully convicted,” said Rebecca.

Growing up, Rebecca experienced a whirlwind of hardships, challenges, and ups and downs in life. Nonetheless, Rebecca persistently pushed forward, faced life’s challenges head-on, and emerged stronger and more resilient than ever. “I have been through a lot, and I want a better future for myself and prove to everyone I could do what they thought I couldn't,” said Rebecca.

With the help of the Metropolitan College program, Rebecca is now one step closer to becoming a lawyer. “

“I plan to take the year to study for and take my LSAT and apply for law school programs in Florida and Georgia for fall of 2022,” said Rebecca,

Since graduating from UofL this spring, Rebecca completed a job transfer with UPS and now resides in Tampa, Florida working as a part-time supervisor with UPS Ground.

Learn more about Rebecca Turley in this Metropolitan College Spotlight Q&A Interview and Video

Video Credits:
Video produced by Renecia Griffie Davis, a Metropolitan College staff member.

Music in this video:
Song Artist: Scott Holmes Music
Song Title: Never Miss A Moment
Source: freemusicarchive.org

What has been your biggest challenge as a MC participant and how did you overcome these challenges?
Trying to balance working late nights and waking up in the morning or afternoon and going to class has been the biggest challenge. I had to push the classes that I could to later afternoon/evening and if I could not, I would take them online.

How has working at UPS contributed to your personal and professional growth?
Working at UPS has contributed to my personal growth by allowing me to see difficult situations and realize it does not have to stay that way. It has helped my professional growth by allowing me to grow as a leader and learn many different skills.

What person(s) has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
This may sound crazy, but me. I am my biggest influence I wake up every day and push myself to be the person I know I can be. Depression, anxiety, a sleeping disorder, ADHD, and endometriosis, have factored into my everyday life and made me stronger and made me determined to reach my goals, despite the obstacles.

What is an interesting or fun fact about yourself?
I competed in the 2020 Miss Kentucky Pageant.

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We are proud of our current students and alumni and their incredible accomplishments! The MC Spotlight is a way for us to highlight the amazing things our current students and alumni are doing. As you read their stories, you will learn how their Metropolitan College experiences helped to shape their futures and influence their careers.

We are always on the lookout for inspiring MC Spotlight stories. If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story with us, contact us at askmetro@kctcs.edu.

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