If you are considering going back to school, what do you perceive to be the barriers in your way?

Sgt Gus Laskaris - No. She wanted me to write how walking on the US flag was a form of art. Referencing the art exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona where several flags were desecrated. Instead I pulled the articles of conduct concerning the proper use and display of the US flag.

PO3 Jade Crowsmeadow - There is something to be said about the challenge of the assignment. I had a Dramatics class in high school (where I was a big part of the JROTC program) and was given a monologue piece that was incredibly anti-Gulf War. I got a B on the performance. In college, we did a Living in History game for most of a US History class, enacting a series of debates in the pre-Civil War era between Conservative elements and Abolitionists. In that, I played Senator John C. Calhoun, one of the biggest bigots in history and the man whose writing paved the way for Secession. The writings I had to do for that class, the sheer abhorrent language and wording, and doing so with passionate argument... some days, I came out of that class shaking my head. Even had to make a few apologies over the course of that class. It was a surreal experience, but I'll tell you, it really opened my eyes to what these people believed and how easily you can slip into the rhetoric.
Sometimes, you have to step outside your own beliefs, no matter how much it gnaws at every fiber of your being. You take a step aside and write, even if you say with every word, "This is so wrong."

SSgt Ryan Sylvester - I applaud your ability to back down, but it is not something I chose to do, nor will choose to do. I am of the belief in standing tall for that which is right. There are somethings I will not compromise, especially for a grade.
You have your way of dealing with a situation, and I have mine. Each have their own set of consequences that will have to be dealt with. As I failed to care about my grade over my conviction, I passed the class with a D. A grade that in the scheme of things didn't matter. What mattered was that I stood up for what I believed in, what I fought for, and what other had fought for; my countries flag and the ideology behind it.
This will be the end of my part of the discussion on this matter. Thank you

PO3 Jade Crowsmeadow, I'm glad that you were able to pull yourself out of the darkness. My own demons almost cost me my education a few years ago. I agree with you that principles are more important than grades. As I said in my previous comment, I have been fortunate to have professors that have valued my military experience. Sgt Gus Laskaris, I must disagree with you. After secondary school, the student's job is not to be a bobble head. Analysis, if even if it disagrees with the professor, is the duty of a college student. It is the professor/instructor's job, in turn, to provide the appropriate rebuttals and provide the next challenge to the student's conclusions.

Excellent point! We push Voc Rehab hard at Michigan. We have an outstanding rep from the VA who comes each semester to brief the student veterans, as well as providing information about the program in our monthly newsletters.

I still don't know much about the rehab program and I've looked at many related resources.

Good to see a center taking an active role in the student veterans' education. Not that the Vet Services Office at Eastern was bad (though it certainly improved in strides later on), but we were often left to forge our own path. If you didn't have your own answers already set, they weren't exactly putting out the right questions to show you the options you had.

Of course, at 70%, VA in Detroit should have put me on that path themselves. But I digress...

Me too!! Wasted that sucker. I was so happy to find out about Voc rehab.

While I can't speak for all universities, the atmosphere on my campus is not as bad as what is often portrayed. The bad apples will always get more attention, unfortunately; however, most traditional students that I have encountered have both thanked me for my service and asked questions regarding my experiences. The faculty and staff have been very supportive, which was greatly appreciated as I dealt with some post-war issues. You bring up a good point with trade schools. My objective is to get veterans to the best education or training that suits their needs.