When I left the service, I thought I was ready for the next chapter. What I didn’t expect was how strange civilian life would feel. In the military, everything had structure and purpose. Out here, I caught myself wondering, Who am I without the uniform? At first, I stumbled through. Even simple things like sitting in a classroom again or adjusting to a new work environment, took some getting used to. The habits I picked up in the service didn’t always match the pace of civilian life. It was humbling to realize I had to relearn things and find new ways to fit in, just like everyone else making their own transitions. What changed everything was reconnecting with other veterans. Their stories reminded me I wasn’t alone, and that it’s okay to lean on each other. I can help with navigating resources like the VA or GI Bill, sharing tools for handling stress, and creating spaces where we can laugh, connect, and just be ourselves again however that may look like to us at an individual level.