As Veterans Day approaches, the Student Veterans Resource Center is honoring veterans within the Spartan community with a week-long series of events, from brunches and panel discussions to an interactive lunch and learn. One of the voices amplifying this celebration is Carlos Acevedo, a member of MSU’s University Communications and Marketing team and editor of the employee newsletter, InsideMSU.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, I had a passion for the ocean. Exploring the beaches and reefs of my beautiful island was as natural to me as a hike in the woods is for Michiganders, and it felt right to join the U.S. Coast Guard after high school.
Cut to the end of my enlistment. After four years of maritime duty, I was ready for college but, surprisingly, not ready for civilian life. It was disorienting and confusing. My sense of self-worth had evolved from accomplishments accrued over a four-year enlistment. Without the uniform and medals, I felt invisible and unworthy. Without a mission, I felt adrift.
Eastern Washington University helped. I discovered journalism and set out to become the next Mike Royko. I loved my studies but still felt like a boat out of water. Other students were younger and less mature. My experiences were alien to them, and I struggled to make friends. Again, I started to drift.
The Pew Research Center reports that one in four veterans share this experience: readjusting to life outside of the military causes transition stress. For some, particularly war veterans who have experienced emotional trauma, that stress can manifest as a serious mental health crisis known as PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Fortunately, my own challenges resolved when I found collegiality and mentorship among fellow student veterans. I graduated and pursued a new mission as a journalist.
Now, 30 years later, it is gratifying to see MSU’s commitment to support its veterans — about 280 employees and 400 students. Through initiatives by the Student Veterans Resource Center, MSU provides scholarships and grants to help with unforeseen expenses and hosts dedicated resources to aid veterans as they take on new challenges. MSU Extension’s programming further helps veterans build personal and financial wellness. These ongoing efforts have earned MSU gold status as a veteran-friendly school nine years in a row from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
Supporting veterans is not only about providing resources — it’s about recognizing and addressing the profound shift from military service to civilian life, a transition I experienced firsthand. By investing in veterans' success, MSU offers more than assistance — it provides a community and a renewed sense of purpose for veterans as they navigate the next chapter in their lives.
In honor of Veterans Day, the MSU community is coming together to support Spartans who have served us. The Student Veterans Resource Center is the main hub for veterans at MSU, dedicated to promoting the educational, career and personal advancement of service members, veterans and their families. Make a difference by supporting the SVRC!
