At the age of seventeen, my parents decided to move to America, so that I may attend university in the United States. Moving from Ireland during my senior year of high school was quite a culture shift. During this time I rapidly developed an overwhelming desire to join the military. Electing to defer college for a few years, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following basic training, I was stationed overseas, completing multiple deployments in various locations. Serving in the military, and specifically overseas, gave me a sense of awe and pride towards my new nation. I suppose it could be said that I felt American. Confident in the knowledge that I was giving back to my adopted country. The sixteen hour days and the exhausting work shaped me into a mature and structured individual, if not a tired one. Confident in the knowledge that I was being built into a better self, I was motivated to achieve more. I advanced quickly, being meritoriously promoted twice, becoming a team leader on my emergency arm /de-arm ordnance team. As Robert Frost said, “knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.” I doubted I could ever return to what I considered a less-fruitful civilian life. I set my sights on staying in the military and hoped to earn a commission as an officer, once I completed my bachelor’s degree.
Unfortunately, as life has a way of going, I was injured while serving atop my Aircraft Carrier, the USS Kitty Hawk, while we were forward-deployed overseas. This unexpected life-trajectory shift derailed my ambition and outlook for a period of time, spiraling into a deep depression. However, I came to accept what was to become my new normal and deal with it. As they say, misery loves company and speaking with my fellow service members who were going through the same thing, helped me to re-focus. After four years on active duty and one year in the reserves, I received an honorable discharge and began university.
While an undergrad I was highly involved in two student-veterans organizations. It was through this involvement, that I routinely volunteered over 40 hours a semester for local organizations with my fellow veterans. This involvement brought back the sense of camaraderie I had felt before, with individuals who were not done serving either. Through my fellow veterans, I also joined a fraternity, comprised of over 50 percent veterans. I was to become the president of this fraternity, and led us to complete the most community service and philanthropic work of any student organization. Unfortunately, also during my presidency, one of our brothers committed suicide following his return from a deployment to Iraq. This event was eye-opening, and certainly re-focused the importance of being aware of the hidden demons that many of us face. While he was not the first to take his life from my time serving, it was this event that really developed my passion to aid and assist my fellow veterans who suffered from mental illness.
The meaningful-purpose this gave me, led to my application and selection for my current position, as a regional manager with Wounded Warrior Project. For three years, I have assisted wounded warriors with everything from homelessness to mental health assistance, to active-engagement in their recovery process. While the job can be difficult and fatiguing at times, it has given me a sense of continued-purpose once again. A sense that I can look back, knowing that I have made a positive impact in the lives of my fellow veterans.
I am now entering the next chapter of my life. Deciding that it is now or never for my return to university, desiring to complete my MBA. Knowing the new challenges I will face as I continue my role with WWP during the day and challenge myself in the evenings as an MBA candidate. I know that the result will be worth it. Following the completion of my MBA, I hope to progress in my role and continue to serve our injured veterans, in more senior positions. Ensuring WWP’s motto, of fostering the most successful, well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation’s history.
