Adjusting to college can pose special challenges for veterans

Adjusting to college can pose special challenges for veterans
Published: Saturday, December 10, 2011
By Brian Albrecht

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Going from mortars to mortarboards isn't always a seamless transition when it comes to veterans on campus.

They're students in their 20s "with the life experience of 50-year-olds," noted Rick DeChant, executive director for veterans services and programs at Cuyahoga Community College. "Sometimes they don't always see eye-to-eye, maturity-wise, with nonveterans."

One Tri-C student-veteran, Maria Popow, said she tends to gravitate toward other vets on campus. "I relate better to veterans, because we get it," she said. "But I have no problems with civilians, either."

Kent State University student Cat Hofer, 29, of Cuyahoga Falls, noted, "A lot of people in my classes are 18 or 19. Coming back from a combat deployment, and having two kids, at times it makes you feel old."

"The military is like a family -- in relationships and how you are cared for," she added. "Once you come out of deployment, you lose that camaraderie and are on your own."
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Four students talk about their experiences going back to college after serving in the military.


Transition from Combat to College is the subject of this project I did for Motion Class. It was done with stop motion (pictures instead of film) because it is a huge issue for veterans at Valencia College as well.