“Coming back to school, I knew I had another purpose in life. I wanted to take the talents and visual skills I gained over 24 years in the military and use them to teach others.”
Fast Facts
- Family: Proud mother of three children
- Army veteran: Served 24 years in the military
- Go-to karaoke song: "Footloose"
- Favorite restaurant: Mellow Mushroom
Courtney Davis spent 24 years serving in the U.S. military before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee to pursue a new path at Florida State University.
Davis, a senior studio art major in FSU’s College of Fine Arts, enlisted in the Army Reserve at 17 while still in high school. She went on to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom and later worked in the military as a public affairs as a mass communication specialist. Today, she is preparing for graduate school in art education with the goal of becoming a middle school art teacher.
At FSU, Davis has found ways to connect her military experience with her interests in art, education and mentorship. From studying contemporary art to engaging with fellow veterans through the Student Veterans Center, she continues to draw on the leadership and communication skills developed throughout her military career.
What was your journey like from enlisting in the military to returning to FSU?
I come from a family of military members. My dad served in the Marines and my uncles in the Army and Navy. Growing up around that legacy, service was always on my mind. When I was 17, I wanted to prove to myself that I could tackle any challenge I set my mind to, so I found a recruiter and joined the Army Reserve during my junior year of high school. I took so much pride in serving at a young age, even wearing my uniform to school on drill days because it gave me a sense of pride knowing I was 17 and already part of something bigger than myself.
Then, just four months after I graduated high school in 2001, 9/11 happened. Watching it unfold on screen almost looked like a movie at first. Seeing the planes hit the Twin Towers turned into a scary, emotional journey for the whole nation. Reality set in quickly for me, and I thought, “Oh God, I’m probably getting deployed.” Although my deployment didn’t come until three years later when I turned 21 and shipped out for Operation Iraqi Freedom, that moment changed everything. Over my 24 years in the military, I served as a cook, a petroleum supply specialist and later public affairs mass communications, where I fell in love with photography. When I retired, I knew I had another purpose: to finish my degree at FSU, master the civilian side of visual arts and use my talents to teach the next generation.
How did your military experience prepare you for your role as a student and future educator?
Serving in the military for 24 years taught me to always keep an open mind. Everyone you meet is different, so you have to have empathy and compassion and really get to know people before you judge them. In my public affairs role, I became a noncommissioned officer and led and educated others, which I absolutely loved.
Sitting in classes at FSU with 19- and 20-year-olds has been such a cool learning experience. My generation wasn’t taught to ask questions; we were taught to just do it. But this generation of students is so full of innovators; they really thirst after knowledge and constantly ask questions. That gets me so excited about being a teacher. I want to teach seventh grade because I think seventh graders are the most honest human beings in the world. Art is all about self-expression, and I want to give kids a safe place where they can express themselves and figure out who they are.
How has the FSU Student Veterans Center impacted your experience at FSU?
Connecting with the FSU Student Veterans Center and going to events like “Breakfast with Bill” has been awesome. Carl Shaw is my VA rep, and he is amazing. When you transition out of the military and come back to school, it can be hard to adjust, but I was honestly so surprised to discover just how many veterans attend FSU. Whenever I go up to the center, everyone is like, “Yeah, I was in the Marine Corps,” or “I was in the Air Force,” and we just start sharing our stories.
It’s like finding that family all over again that I felt like I had lost when I got out of the military last year. Having people around who are around the same age and understand what you’ve gone through makes such a big difference. Even when you’re spitting out military acronyms other people might not understand, the veterans get it. They understand what that family bond means: at the end of the day, you had people to fight with and who would fight for you. FSU has so many amenities for veterans, and the school makes that transition so smooth for us.
What makes Florida State University and the Studio Art program a perfect fit for you?
Florida State has always felt like a big family to me. My sister graduated from FSU in 2002, and she used to bring us on campus when I was younger. I loved seeing how much joy she had here. The studio art program is amazing. The professors have real-world field experience, and they bring so much passion into the classroom. Having access to the Museum of Fine Arts, the FabLab and local galleries around campus makes it such an inspiring place to create.
What are your plans after graduation?
Coming back to school, I knew I had another purpose in life. I wanted to take the talents and visual skills I gained in the military and use them to teach others. I am on track to graduate with my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in May 2027, and I am applying to FSU’s Art Education graduate program to earn my master’s degree.
My goal is to step directly into the classroom as a middle school art teacher. School should always be a safe place for kids, and art provides the perfect avenue for self-expression, creative problem solving and personal growth. I look forward to using my background to help young students express themselves, master digital tools and discover their potential.