“After high school, I served in the Marine Corps for four years, a choice my family initially disapproved of. Although my four years in service were not easy, I do not regret my decision at all. I became a more resilient and disciplined person, and I will forever cherish the memories I’ve made. My experiences interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures allowed me to expand my perspective on life. During my service, I took online college courses and later participated in a Skillbridge program, igniting my passion for higher education. My path led me through Golden West College and Orange Coast College, with a goal to transfer to UC San Diego in just one year. Along the way, I attended an academic boot camp hosted by Warrior-Scholar Project at Yale University , where I gained confidence and connected with fellow student veterans. Today, I serve as the Sixth College peer coach at the Triton Transfer Hub and the events officer for the Student Veterans Organization at...