Tell us about yourself:
In order to be a successful student, you must often sacrifice a lot of your personal time and resources. As a veteran, you’ve shown you are willing to sacrifice a number of things for the benefit of your country. Apply all of what you’ve learned in the military and you’ll be equally successful as college student.
What prompted you to return to school?
I wanted to return to school because I feel a college degree is essential in today’s ultra-competitive business world. A college degree will give me the education I’ll need to be able to succeed as a business professional. The G.I. Bill has helped me finance my pursuit of a college degree.
What military education benefits, such as the GI Bill, did you use?
G.I. Bill; The G.I. Bill entirely covers my school expenses. I would not be able to attend college without it.
What has your experience been like as a student?
I’ve had a truly enjoyable experience so far at Cal U. The faculty and staff are tremendously helpful and accessible. The school has an outstanding veterans’ outreach program as well. The curriculum is challenging, but Cal U gives you all of the opportunities and tools you need to succeed.
What challenges did you have adjusting to campus culture after military life?
The military is a true melting pot of people. You meet people from all over the United States with all different sorts of cultural backgrounds. Campus life is no different – you meet people from all walks of life. I think the military life helped prepare me for campus life.
Do you believe your military experience has made you a better student?
My military experience has absolutely made me a better student. The discipline I learned in the Army has enabled me to juggle my full-time college schedule, a full-time professional career, fatherhood and my part-time job as a member of the PA National Guard.
What advice do you have for veterans returning to school?
The biggest piece of advice I’d give to veterans returning to school would be to do their research. By that I mean learn about the different programs and education benefits exclusively available to veterans. Reach out to your local VA office and search the Internet so you don’t miss out on all of the resources available to veterans.
Additional comments:
I think the military, VA, federal and state governments and the American higher education system have given veterans an extraordinary number of education benefits. I am truly grateful to be a veteran and to have access to all of these incredible education benefits and programs. Without these benefits and programs, I think my dream of a college degree would be almost impossible to achieve on my own. Our country has done an outstanding job of rewarding veterans for their service. I wish a greater number of veterans took advantage of the resources available to them.