During this time of strangeness, I have had time to reflect on my current path and figure out what excites me. I have always been a part of the military affiliated population. First hand, I have seen various changes and growth within the various resources the population can obtain. Because of this, I have been able to develop a unique view to researching this area as well as to how to approach those areas of research.

The world of military and veterans is a world within a world. There is diversity in many aspects include race, gender, sexuality, and age. Individuals can experience many life aspects within a smaller environment than just the outside world. Added stressors like the chain of command, deployments, combat, and navigating some of the problematic areas can cause lasting issues the the military affiliated population has to deal with.

As a caregiver, I helped to navigate this system. What I found was that the social workers that were helping truly enjoyed their positions and jobs. They enjoyed the success stories, the joy that came from watching someone they helped obtain more independence and stability. But what I truly loved seeing was that they had a passion for it. This passion ignited in me and drove me towards wanting to see that- not just for my veteran, but for the entirety of the population.

Recognition and the Future

As a veteran, I have a strong recognition that no one is perfect. A lot of success stories have an element of perfect timing to them. But that doesn’t mean that we should give up when we are struggling. I had many days while wearing my uniform that were not great. I took the saying “embrace the suck” to heart and got through it. What has been great has been my path since taking that uniform off for the last time and embarking on a stronger path towards helping others.

An inspiring note for me has been to watch the path of another member of my department. He pushed hard and has propelled himself into PA school. Being able to share that success and joy is one of the reasons why I want to research the military affiliated population. It is also exciting to be a part of the journey upwards.