Today is Veterans Day, and USC has a history of supporting the armed forces. In 2018, the University was recognized by US News & World Report as one of the Top 5 Best Colleges for veterans.
Jill Burke spoke to Trojans about what it’s like to be a veteran at USC.
James McCord served in the Army for ten years and is a current grad student in USC’s School of Social work. After moving to LA, he was homeless for two months after a relationship ended abruptly. His experience has prompted him to want to advocate for other veterans who suffer from some of the highest rates of homelessness in the country.
“Ultimately my goal is to change policy, how service members transition into civilian life, because we have a lot of reactive programs. So once you’re in that hole, it’s like trying to dig you out of that hole versus trying to curve you from going into that hole.”
Sage Clark transferred to USC in 2019. After barely graduating high school and failing out of community college, he joined the Marine Corps. The military gave him the motivation and discipline to apply himself and succeed in community college and now at USC.
Through the Warrior Scholarship Project, he spent two weeks on USC’s campus before enrolling.
“We stayed at Cardinal Gardens, got to experience the whole thing, meet with a bunch of different professors. We learned how to write and all the stuff we take literacy courses. We spent the week when we do business stuff. And it really, I think, gives a lot of veterans the confidence.”
What also gives Clark, a 28-year-old undergrad, confidence, is the respect he feels from his younger classmates.
“The age kind of makes things a little, you know, kind of it separates a little bit when it comes to dealing with other students and stuff. But for the most part, kids are really respectful and it’s a great experience. I enjoy having the confidence of being a veteran and at USC and it’s just awesome.”
Clark says that while the university remains virtual, it’s important to not forget about veteran students.
“Transitioning from the military to civilian life, it’s hard itself. But doing it from military to higher academia is a whole other thing, especially if you have nobody you’re actually meeting with and stuff like that. So I’d say. Just not to lose track and lose sight of people that are coming in, and that’s not just for veterans, but students in general, I mentor like some students that are just transferred in and they’re obviously missing the whole experience of meeting people. So. But, yeah, especially for veterans.”
Jimmy Guevara is a recent graduate of USC’s School of Social work. He served in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2006.
USC’s school of social work is the only program of it’s kind that has a military track, he said. Plenty of former military faculty, an abundance of support for veterans, and the USC network were big selling points in his decision to attend USC.
“No one really recognize the work you do as a veteran once you get out because you don’t have a degree, you know, so when when we’re limited to what we’re capable of doing, it does create some obstacles and challenges for many veterans. I always go back to if it wasn’t for the fact that I did have access to to to go to to go to school and to go to a school like USC that does provide a lot of support. And it’s I think overall it gives me a good sense of like that, which we’re not forgotten.”
Guevara and other veterans at USC appreciate how the school honors them during holidays like Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
He’s always felt USC’s patriotism and love for veterans, a feeling he equates to his deep love for this country
For Annenberg Media.. I’m Jill Burke…