CSUN’s Veterans Resource Center a “Home Away from Home” for Student Veterans
By Analisa Venolia
Transitioning from military life to student life is difficult. From connecting with peers who can’t understand a veteran’s unique experiences, to struggling to fill the gaps in federal benefits, life as a student veteran requires support just as unique.
The University Student Union’s Veterans Resource Center (VRC) creates a bridge between student veterans, military dependent students and the CSUN community through social events, academic assistance and wellness programs. The programs provide student veterans with resources to meet academic goals, opportunities for professional development and a space to join forces with allies to strengthen their sense of community on campus.
“Veterans have different life experiences,” said Robert Graves, manager of the VRC. “Those experiences affect how we show up as students and how we relate to our peers. It can be pretty challenging and taxing. The VRC offers a space where vets can find community, have conversations in the same language and push each other to grow.”
D’erick Singleton, Army veteran and third year kinesiology student, shared the value of the bonds he built with fellow veterans at the VRC.
“The VRC has had a huge impact on my life,” he stated. “Coming here is the better part of my day. Interactions here have helped me become a better person and heal from hardships I’ve gone through.”
Mario Eguino, Navy veteran and freshman electrical engineering student, frequents the VRC to study in between classes and connect with peers.
“The VRC helps me get through the stress of school and keeps me committed to my goals,” Eguino said.
Veterans receive federal benefits but can’t always apply those to educational costs because they need to prioritize rent and food. Unable to afford tuition, they are forced to drop out of college. The VRC combats this by offering the Student Veteran Emergency Grant to help student veterans meet their academic needs and achieve their goals.
To do this, the VRC relies on donations from the community, both big and small.
“Donations will help the VRC support veteran students with finishing their degrees and enable them to add value to the communities they now serve,” Graves said.
Donations will also ensure the VRC can continue to provide student veterans with a space to build bonds with peers who understand their experiences and offer each other support, as it has done for over 10 years.
“I was a student here. I wrote my thesis out there on those tables,” said Graves. “Six years later, I still have deep connections with individuals I graduated with—not just professionally but also personally. It’s a continuous comradery.”
Just as the VRC was able to foster bonds years ago, it still does so for veteran students today.
“The VRC is a home away from home,” said Singleton.
Eguino agreed, stating, “It’s family.”
Donations to the Veterans Resource Center ensure we can continue to assist our veterans in their academic goals, provide them with a home away from home and serve them as they have served us.
CSUN’s annual Giving Day event on March 5-6 provides an opportunity to support the Veterans Resource Center. Gifts can be made online through the Giving Day website once the campaign begins.