Student view: From military service to college graduate

Alexander Schmitz is a military veteran from Pinckney, Michigan. After leaving the U.S. Air Force, he decided to pursue higher education at Michigan State University. Schmitz is graduating with a degree in applied engineering sciences with a concentration in business law. His journey at MSU has been shaped by community, growth and a commitment to supporting fellow student veterans.

Transitioning to college after the military was not a direct pipeline for me. After I separated from the Air Force in September 2021, I had no idea how to move forward. I found work in Atlanta, Georgia, on film production crews and later as a traveling electrician. I eventually decided I needed to find more meaningful work, and I became a student at MSU.

I had already uprooted myself countless times through the military and through my career changes, so moving to Michigan for another long adventure was simply the next step for me. I had no context for what it would mean to go to a public university at the scale of MSU.

I found that the first year left me without many connections other than a couple of friends I made along the way. I had no campus or community involvement until the end of spring 2024, when I started working at the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students, or CVMAS. By that fall, I was actively putting myself out there and found clubs, service to the community and an organization I could identify with for the first time. Practically overnight, I was working with CVMAS, serving as treasurer for the Student Veterans of America, or SVA; an active member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity; a dedicated member of MSU’s Club Underwater Hockey team; and an official member of the MSU Salsa Club.

Involving myself in all these organizations was challenging. For me, it always came down to having enough time for these commitments. However, I found that the time spent was extremely rewarding.

I compare my time last year to my first year, and I see how impactful being involved with all these communities has been. I had an incredibly hard time being able to connect with most of the students by virtue of being a disabled combat veteran who has lived a life much different than most students.

The SVA and CVMAS were particularly supportive in helping me find others like me. And being exposed to younger groups of people chipped away at my insecurity about fitting in and really helped me become more well-rounded as a person.

Much of my coursework has focused on legal concepts and economics to prepare for a career in intellectual property law. Although the concentration isn’t a separate certification, my education pathway through the Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) continues beyond graduation. I will complete a final training course next month and then sit for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office exam to become a certified patent agent, which is the key qualification that distinguishes a patent attorney from a general IP attorney.

Graduating represents a turning point similar to when I separated from the Air Force in 2021. It marks the beginning of a new phase of education, likely a move and another fresh start. It also holds deep personal significance. I am the first of five siblings to earn a higher education degree. Having my parents attend commencement feels like an important milestone for our family and sets a meaningful precedent for my younger siblings, nephews/nieces and cousins.

If I could say anything, it would be for anyone who reads this or wants to enjoy their time at Michigan State to go out there and get involved. College will challenge you in different ways than the military, but you’ll find that your experience, discipline and perspective serve you extremely well. You may feel older or out of place compared to traditional students, but that’s exactly where your strength lies.

You have an opportunity to shape communities by example, just as great leaders shaped you in the service. At the same time, entering a new environment requires humility. Being a good follower at first will help you practice servant leadership, and the MSU community truly will look after you if you engage with it openly.