ByAlison Seagle
Staff Writer
Students honored the nation’s veterans in another way this month, besides getting a day off from classes on Veterans Day.
During U-hour on Nov. 6, students were able to show support for veterans by observing a color guard presentation, listening to guest speakers and even eating cake. The CSUSM Veterans Center hosted a special ceremony to celebrate Veterans’ Day and the Marine Corps’ birthday. The guest speakers included both retired and active duty members of the military, and there was a traditional Marine Corps birthday cake cutting ceremony, after which refreshments were served.
There are several students on campus who are veterans and many believe their experience in the military has made a significant and beneficial impact on their success here at CSUSM.
Ajah Silva, a liberal studies major, has served both active duty in the Navy as well as in the Air Force Reserve. She says because of her experiences, she “can follow structure really well [and is] more focused on detail and can communicate with the professors better.” Silva also shared that “because of [her] experience in the military [she] has more understanding and exposure to other cultures.”
Rick Enriquez, a business major, says his “maturity level is different” and after spending time in the military, your “passion and drive to get your degree is more refined.” He feels that “school’s easier after having been in the service and needing to get things accomplished.” Enriquez finds multitasking easier considering he “already had a career with different responsibilities to balance.”
Mike Betancourt, a criminology and sociology major, agrees that military experiences and training transfer into great classroom abilities, saying he is “more focused and [his] work ethic has taken off. Life experiences in the military help [him] see things in a new way whether in a business class or a history class.” Betancourt also said one of the best things was that “it’s different being part of history than just studying it.”
Many CSUSM students have served proudly in uniform and continue to work hard in the classroom.