Cody Tracey is a veteran of the United States Army, in which he served from 2014 to 2017. During his time in the College, he explored his interest in business. After graduating with a degree in economics, he will work at Blackstone as an analyst.
What drew you to UChicago after your military service?
While my military experience was paramount in my development, the military tends to reward conformity and is built on a very structured leadership style. In UChicago, I saw an opportunity to experience the academic and intellectual challenge that most students look for here, as well as the opportunity to develop a more flexible leadership style while honing my analytical and critical thinking skills through the Core curriculum. UChicago provides an environment where students are encouraged to speak up if they disagree, and I felt that style of learning would help me develop and build valuable skills.
How have your past experiences influenced your academic and career interests?
My experiences during the military are admittedly very different from my academic and career interests. However, one aspect of my career interests that is similar to the military is the reliance on teamwork. In the military everything is done as a team, which I learned is also important within Private Equity. Everyone is coalescing around one common goal, and this creates a great group dynamic to work in.
What is your favorite class you took at UChicago?
I’m actually taking this right now, but my favorite class is “Star Wars and Religion” taught by Professor Russell Johnson. We spend the entire quarter watching feature-length Star Wars films and then analyze and explore how George Lucas has implemented elements of various world religions into the Star Wars universe. Professor Johnson’s teaching style is also incredibly engaging, and he distills concepts in ways that make the course content even more enjoyable and interesting (within the typical UChicago style of course).
What is your fondest college memory?
I was able to participate in the UChicago LEADS pre-orientation program, which was my very first experience stepping onto UChicago’s campus as a student and experiencing some of the things that make UChicago such a unique place to be. In addition to further developing leadership skills and learning about UChicago, we got to travel around the city and learn more about what makes Chicago special as well, all while getting to know other incoming students.
After graduation, what are your future plans?
I’m excited to spend at least a few years experiencing all that New York City has to offer.