Introduction

Your contract is up. You are mentally and emotionally exhausted but so excited to be a civilian. You're probably a little nervous but you’ve got school lined up so it’s not like you’re going to be homeless if you don’t get it together right away. You’ll have the GI Bill and E5 BAH to fall back on. Heck, if you’re lucky you’ll even be able to pocket some of that leftover BAH to pay off small bills. The future is bright and you’re taking a breath of fresh air. That’s good. Hold on to that optimism because few things feel that great, but I’m here to tell you it can sour fast if you fall into the common veteran student traps. Here are 6 tips for you that came from my own experience.

6 Tips to Make the Transition From the Military to College Student

1. Don’t Be the “Bro-Vet”

Just don’t be this guy/gal.

2. Go in Humble

Recognize that this is a new arena and you are here to learn. You might even learn a little about how to be a real boy by watching those younger folks you might look down your nose at because, news flash, the military probably made you a little weird. You have probably dealt with a lot more responsibility than most of them and you'll probably be made group leader of every project but that doesn't mean you know everything. Being a good leader means recognizing each group member's strengths and values. Peer leadership is the hardest kind and you can develop it here. Don’t be a jerk, don’t brag, don’t condescend, and realize that after a certain point, no one cares. Keep your head down and do your work. And take off those d@mn shooting glasses in public.

3. Pick a Program You Are Wholeheartedly Interested in Pursuing

4. Mix Elective Classes Up

5. Do the Groundwork

Do LOTS

6. Get involved

So many vets want to take a step back from responsibility after leaving active duty and starting school because they are tired. This does you and your community a disservice because you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that you can share. Student veterans’ organizations can help you navigate the administrative headaches of getting your GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, or Vocational Rehab paperwork sorted out and, in turn, you can help new vets as they come in. Not only that but having other vets around to talk about shared life experiences does wonders for your mental health when you get out. Student and community organizations are a great way to meet new friends, network, and build lasting relationships that could ultimately benefit your career. Getting involved will help develop those community leadership skills and look great on a resume.

Conclusion

Bridging the divide between the military and civilians is very important in today’s world because so many people see the military as foreign. In the end, we are all just Americans. Some of us chose to join, some didn’t. Bringing your voice to the civilian population is a healthy thing to allow veterans’ issues to become less foreign by representing the community well (i.e. by not being a Bro-Vet). What to read next: Which Online Colleges for Veterans are Really the Best This Year?More like this: Veteran Combat Medic to College Student & How I Struggled to AdaptWhat challenges did you face as a Veteran returning to school? Were there any tips you felt were helpful? Let us know in the comments below!