The biggest challenge I faced when getting to Rutgers was assimilating into the university. Coming from a long tour in Iraq and a very difficult transition to the civilian world, I felt like I could not relate to the average Rutgers student, who may not have faced the types of difficulties I have had in life. Then I joined Veterans for Education, the on-campus student group comprised of veterans and supporters. Having this group in place allowed to me to socialize and feel comfortable among my fellow veterans, eliminating the feeling of alienation among the larger student body.

My advice for newly entering Rutgers students would be to take advantage of the programs and support that Rutgers has initiated over the past few months. Stay focused on the task at hand, which would be getting a degree, and don't be afraid to seek help if it's needed. Everyone struggles. The most important part is to not lose hope and never give up on your dreams.

Life as a student differs a lot from the military. Before Rutgers, my lifestyle revolved around a set schedule almost every day. I had a set diet and sleeping habits, and I worked long hours in jobs that were primarily manual labor. I also had someone guiding me and telling me what to do. At Rutgers, I had to set my own schedule, my eating and sleeping habits changed, and I had little to no guidance. I came in with no clue about how college life works. I felt as though I was lost and had a hard time adjusting to student life.

Another challenge was that I felt that the Rutgers community, students, and faculty did not appreciate veterans and the military. This motivated me to join student government, and I started to bring up issues facing veterans at Rutgers. I began to seek out other student veterans and put together a few student programs to increase awareness of veterans' issues. We united to help improve the situation for veterans at Rutgers.

And students and faculty began to respond. Today I am the secretary of University College Council, and I am glad to see that there’s a Veterans Affairs Committee, a veterans reception, a veterans mentoring program, and other programs to assist the transition and overall experience for current and future student veterans.

I was originally admitted to Douglass College as a student in the Bunting Program—a program geared for nontraditional students. It was very welcoming to someone like me, who had a family already and wanted to have flexibility in attending school. One of the challenges was trying to work, raise my family, and finish my undergraduate degree. It was quite a balancing act.

I originally attended Rutgers to complete my undergraduate degree. I received my degree in 2007, and I am currently working on my master's. I've also been accepted to Rutgers School of Law–Newark.

Advice? Don't expect to know what you want to do right away. That's okay. But if you do know, then that's okay as well, and don't let anybody dissuade you from following a path, no matter how difficult it may appear to others. When I worked, my boss told me that as a single parent, I could not go to school and work and raise my family. I didn't listen to him. I graduated with honors from Douglass. I have a 4.0 GPA in my master's program and will be going to law school.

Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, especially once you're in a class. Sometimes things come up, especially for those of us who have commitments, such as weekend duty, family responsibilities, etc. Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for guidance or help. And especially don't be afraid to seek counseling if you run into personal, emotional, financial, or other issues. When my home flooded and my five children and I were homeless, it was one of my professors here at Rutgers who arranged for us to stay in faculty housing for several months until our home was livable.

The challenges that I have faced are that I am five years older than my peers and have been on my own for the past eight years. I feel like I have a somewhat different outlook on life because I have sort of lived another life and had a minicareer already.

At Rutgers, I am making great contacts and building relationships with people that will be irreplaceable. I hope to make some sort of impact for veterans. When you’re starting out at Rutgers, try to make contact with someone at Veterans Services to help with your transition. Try to have multiple copies of paperwork (i.e., the GI Bill and DD Form 214) ready at orientation or meetings. Get familiar with the campus before school starts—walk your route of classes, find out where the libraries are, find the student centers, and learn about the bus system.