SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE
SERVING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED: VETERANS
My Social Impact Initiative aims to inspire leaders, educate the community, and unite organizations in order to create positive, expedited and lasting resources for military veterans.
THE WHY
Competing for my first MAO competition in 2019, I had no idea what I would even have as my “platform”. At the time, I was working as a military admissions counselor for a university. I thought about doing something about self-worth and being authentically yourself. While this is still a pressing topic in both men and women today, it didn’t stick with me. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with a woman who I was trying to enroll. The conversation went something like this:
THE CONVO THAT SPARKED CHANGED
ME: Hi I am wondering if you are still interested in getting started in your degree as we have awesome military scholarships.
HER: Sorry I am still interested; I am just kind of tied right now.
ME: What has you tied up in the moment?
HER: I am gathering some of the nurses on the floor to volunteer.
ME: That is great, what are you all going to do?
HER: Well (BLANK) holiday is coming up and most nurses are off. Which means there isn’t going to be nurses going out to the home of veterans to help them. Some can’t go a day without a nurse’s aid.
ME: Oh wow. I had no idea. And you yourself are a veteran?
HER: Yes. I have to take care of my brothers and sisters.
***At this point I was on the verge of tears. Her less that 5-minute conversation had moved me in a way I hadn’t felt about my other platform ideas. As I thanked her for her time, I couldn’t stop this overwhelming feeling.***
RELFLECTION
I started to reflect on my dad, who is still active in the Army. He sacrifices so much for the family unit and asks for little to nothing in return. People saying “thank you for your service” makes him a little shy. And I thought about the sacrifice that he made, without hesitation, to help me with my degree so that I can make my grandmother proud. My grandfather who had also been in the Army. Sacrifice after sacrifice. And now this woman, who was a complete stranger to me, a veteran herself, talked freely of how she would continue that sacrifice past the point of her own service. It moved me. Who would take care of my dad when he was out of the military? What could I do now as a civilian to help others who may not have as much support? These questions poured into my head and spilled into the next couple of nights.
Now, 4 years later my Dad is retired and my heart for serving his fellow battle buddies has continued.