Military Family…
I was born and raised in San Diego, an 8th generation member of the Marine Corps. I enlisted in 2008, and I was deployed 23 months to Afghanistan (two deployments). When I got out November 2014, I moved to Texas and that summer I met a beautiful, blue-eyed girl from northwest Ohio. She was in the Air Force, and when she received her orders to relocate to Dayton, OH, I agreed to go with her. We got married the next year. When she got out October 2017, we moved to Montpelier, her hometown.
Offering Help…
When I decided to go to Northwest State, it was about a week before the semester started. Connie (NSCC registrar) opened the doors to every office and absolutely made sure that I was enrolled, and that I had seen financial aid, a career advisor, and everyone else I needed to see. Within two days, I had everything confirmed and finalized including being enrolled in classes at Northwest State. The financial aid office was even able to find me a $500 scholarship to help me get my textbooks in time for the first classes.
I thought I was going to encounter some resistance because I waited until the last minute. The staff at Northwest State showed me great respect, making sure everything was processed accurately and quickly. The whole experience was priceless – it’s not something we as veterans earn or expect, but when you see someone do something like that, it fills your heart with hope. You find true appreciation in a society where there is a lot of conflict.
Quality and Convenience…
It has been really nice to have a college that has night classes available close to home. I’m out the door at 7:00 a.m., and when I’m done with work I go straight to school, grab some food, and then take classes until almost 9:00 at night. I’m usually gone about 14 hours a day between work and school.
My Advice…
If you are currently in high school, find your local recruiter and go. Just do it. It’s not about the benefits (GI Bill, compensation, etc.), it’s the experience that takes you out of your element and takes you into different cultures and environments that you would never otherwise have seen. There’s something about being a vital part of our nation’s security that is priceless.
If you’re still in the service, go to school. Get the schooling that you have done recorded. I did seven years of networking, cabling, satellite, etc. in the Marines and I didn’t have a single official credit to show for it. It meant nothing on paper for an employer. Go to an accredited school and get credit for the things you are learning. I am a first semester business management student at Northwest State. My experience in the military has served me well, and I look forward to growing as a student and a person with NSCC.
