Veteran’s Adjust from the Battlefield to the Classroom

Troops return home to reunite with family. Photo by: Hungeree.com

Story by: Alyson Svec

One of the choices veterans face after returning home from the battlefield is to attend school and get a higher education.

Veteran’s lives change after serving in the military. While trying to return to their daily routines and reunite with friends and family, they still face many difficulties, especially when it is adjusting to school.

Tess Banko, former Marine, felt scared when she began college. She learned quickly what the military expected of her and developed routines, but school was different.

“By comparison, college life was unpredictable and unnerving. Each professor had different expectations that sometimes changed over the course of a semester” (9).

Parker Ormsby decided to join the Army after high school. He is now attending his first semester at Texas State. In the beginning, Ormsby had difficult experiences because of the mental state he was in.

“Adjusting is easy, it’s just a motivation thing to me,” said Ormsby. “For me, I did not fit in well at all with people at school.”

It is difficult for him to find common topics to discuss with other students because of their age differences. He noticed people grow and mature quicker in the military. Nothing bothers him anymore because he has been in the worst situations from serving in the Army. When he hears students complain in class over small issues, he knows they will never understand what he went through.

Robert B. Ellen retired from the Air Force in 2011 after 20 years of service. Currently studying Computer Science at Texas State, he feels like going to college was the right choice.

“I would have been an idiot if I wouldn’t have gone to college,” said Ellen. “I think what kept me in line was the military structure, because I listed straight out of college.”

Ellen noticed different teaching styles from what he learned in the military and at school. In the military he was taught information in order, but in school, teachers jump to different areas of study. This change has been stressful to him.

“I have to try to knock out a paper around one to two in the morning and I’m not used to that,” said Ellen.

He sets time aside from homework so he can sleep. He drinks coffee to stay awake. Since he lives an hour away from campus, he does not have extra time for school activities. Instead, he goes to church and spends time with his family.

“In the military, you learn to adapt, overcome and improve whatever needs to be done.”

Michael Flinn, former member of the Marine Corps, works, attends school full-time and is a father.

“For me going back to school is both a blessing and a curse,” said Flinn.

After serving in 2005, Flinn discovered he had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He gets paranoid in large classrooms with more than 300 students. In smaller classes, he can relax.

Murel Miller, veterans certifying assistant, deals with students with PTSD daily.

“I recognize symptoms and I’ve got some students that I’ll do some things for those I don’t do for others. We make sure we don’t push the limits. You try to make their lives the best you can.”

Flinn missed the structure of school because it is laid out black and white. After serving, he knew exactly what he wanted to study in college.

“For us, we were in the military so it’s a completely different situation,” said Flinn. “We know now what we want to do unlike other college students. It’s a huge disconnection.”

Although he likes to stay invisible during class, he plays paintball with two veterans in his class in his free time.

Veterans believe dealing with difficulties in school is worth it because they obtain a higher education in the end.

Cashing In for College

Story & Photo by: Alyson Svec

Students at Texas State University are concerned about the rising costs of college tuition.

Public four-year colleges charge an average of $7,605 per year in tuition for in-state students, according to CollegeBoard. This total does not include housing, food, books or supplies.

Stacy Krupala, 22-year-old student is concerned about the rising costs of college and how this will affect her in the future.

“If it increases, I may not have the means or funds to afford college to further my education,” said Krupala.

Krupala started at a community college because it was more affordable and was in her hometown, so she did not have to drive far. She works and saves money by placing it in a special account for college spending.

Cody Lindemann has already been affected by tuition costs and does not want to see them rise.

“It will take longer for me and it will be harder to get my life settled and started,” said Lindemann.

Lindemann took a year off from school because he could not afford it. He worked full-time instead and attended the following year. Yet, he also feels that college is not meant for everyone, and there are other ways to make a living other than having an education.

21-year-old student, Jessica Montez, believes the cost of college will eventually affect her, but knows how important attending college is regardless of the cost.

“On a scale of one to five of importance, I would say a five. Everyone needs a higher education,” said Montez.

Montez deposits money in her savings and also applies for Financial Aid, which is the main contributor for her to pay for college.

Steven Levinson, 18-year-old student, does not apply for Financial Aid, but also believes in the importance of education and saved money by starting off at a community college.

“I was only going for basics and I was paying for it myself so it was the smartest thing to do,” said Levinson.

Although Levinson does not know how the college costs will affect him in the future, he continues to work and puts money in his savings.

Use the College Cost Calculator to get an estimate of future college tuition costs. Students differ on the ways to save and make money, but are all concerned about how their future education may be affected.