Student Veterans of America Helps Veterans Look Toward the Future

For college students across the country, facing obstacles while pursuing a degree is a rite of passage. Confusing assignments? Overbooked computer labs? Lack of parking spaces on or near campus? Surely those will cause frustration. Just remember to pack your patience before the day starts. Because not everyone has dealt with life and death decisions, but most of you veterans have.

Veterans, also, have additional challenges – ones that are considerably more emotionally taxing. A missing sense of camaraderie, feeling like an outsider among the traditional 18- to 22-year-old population, and a lack of understanding by university faculty are, real concerns for those who have served our country.

But you’re not alone. And Student Veterans of America (SVA) is there to help you.

With 1,300 chapters from coast to coast – and 15 new ones opening up every month – SVA serves as “boots on the ground” on campus, helping Veterans reintegrate into college life and succeed academically. The chapters coordinate campus activities, provide preprofessional networking and generally serve as a touchstone for student Veterans in higher education.At its recent national conference in Orlando, more than 1,100 student Veterans and nearly 600 administrators, business leaders, nonprofit professionals and advocates came together to celebrate student Veterans. Equally as important, they dedicated themselves to channeling their collective strengths toward future opportunities. Given SVA’s relationship with 400,000+ student Veterans (and all of their successes and challenges), the group can help shape university policies and practices for Veterans for years to come.

One thing I noticed…the entire event was Veterans interacting like long lost friends and family. The bond was already formed before they even met. Be sure to take advantage of that at your local college. When I was studying online at Grand Canyon University, SVA just started. But even the Facebook groups gave me a connection, a sense of belonging and a desire to attend local events and fun. I hear they got a sweet Vet Center to meet in.

Have a look at what other #NatCon2016 attendees, sponsors, partners, exhibitors and speakers have to say about their conference experience. And the SVA blog offers a glimpse of what’s next for SVA.

Visit studentveterans.org to find out how the organization can help your academic career this semester. And if you’d like to be part of delivering more innovative solutions for Veterans, please consider a career with us: Join VA.