Facilitator : Mark Powell, Interim Director, Military Science

Strengths And Weaknesses

STRENGTHS

Veterans have the benefit of having a lot of life experience. Both groups want to succeed. Both groups understand a college degree affords them a better life. They are normally more mature and have learned “life’s lessons” the hard way. They normally have a great work ethic and don’t like to settle for second best. They also know how to prioritize work. They will ask questions to clarify information and instructions.

WEAKNESSES

With all of the changes that will happen in their first months of college, veteran students may experience substantial emotional ups and downs -- exhilaration at meeting their new roommate, panic at seeing the first lab assignment, or loneliness if they haven't heard from family in a while.
· Disorientation. Many veterans find that they go through a period of disorientation at first. They are used to being in an organization, like a close knit family and now it's almost like being in a foreign country where they feel disconnected from their old life but don't yet feel at home in the new place.
· Sadness. They may feel sadness at being separated from family, the Army and their old friends. They may not be communicating with family and friends as often as they once did.
· Disappointment. Sometime during their first semester, some students feel that the college experience hasn't lived up to their expectations. They may have thought they would still be at the top of their class, and find they aren’t, or that the school would be different than it is. They may feel they want to transfer or drop out.