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Nick Arman I was injured in Iraq and due to my injuries I knew that I couldn't become a cop anymore
so I really needed a transition.
When I came back from Iraq in 2005 I had I think a week off and then I went right back to school at Pierce.
From the time I started my undergrad until I graduated with my Bachelors I went on
3 different deployments. Seeing the world was very educational for me
because when I travelled through Europe while I was stationed in Germany I
didn't take the scenic routes as much. I did more of the Historic scenes
so that was very educational for me and I enjoy that kind of travelling.
But when I came back from Iraq, school was very different for me.
As opposed to coming back from Europe and coming back from Korea
When I came back from Iraq I had challenges I didn't have before. I had lack of concentration
I had constant flashbacks, I was very hyper vigilant.
Another thing I learned while I was in Korea and I came back was to ask for help
to ask for assistance and that was something that was difficult for me in the military
because in the military you're do as your told and then you ask.
This Graduate program my Masters program that I've been fortunate to go through
really really taught me how to ask when I don't know something.
And throughout my Graduate program we do a lot of self reflection. Something
I've never done before so that in itself was very difficult for me and I learned so much about myself in that first year.
That really made me question where I was and where I wanted to be.
But the one thing I was able to take out of my first year in the program was my passion to helping others.
And I really was really glad that I have chosen the path I have.
But on the side I also would also love to work on the side with Veterans.
I volunteered at the Sepulveda Ambulatory care center and we would do outreach
to them and try to have them come in and get vested, have them get their initial
physical with the V.A. to just at least have their names input in the V.A. system
most veterans and current service members are not even aware of their benefits.
It's one of the things I'm passionate about it getting Veterans to utilitize and take advantage
of their benefits that they've earned. This campus
has really been a significant part of my life. I really made connections with so many
different people that I never thought I would be able to.
My experiences here have been wonderful.
College is a time for students to really express who they are
and learn about themselves and develop into the professionals, develop into the individuals they are going to be.