Personal Statement

When I left the Marine Corps seventeen years ago, I struggled to find my place in the civilian world. I spent years trying to find my new normal. I felt alone and lost, completely out of place. I struggled with the VA and eventually gave up all hope in the system. I felt the system had failed me. In recent years, I have found so many veteran's struggling with similar issues, not feeling like they belong in the civilian world, not knowing how to adjust and find their "new normal". Realizing I was not alone in my struggles gave me a new sense of belonging and opened a new world for me. I found myself wanting to help others with similar issues, to help them transition more seamlessly than I had. I found the same flaws existed with the VA's system as they had almost two decades ago, but now, instead of avoiding the problems, I want to be a part of the solution. By becoming a military social worker, I feel I can help many veteran's live better lives. If I can help just one person, my efforts will have been worth it.