1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:05,919 The day the VRC opened was a really exciting day, because it meant that Cal State Northridge 2 00:00:05,919 --> 00:00:10,769 had made a commitment to student veterans, specifically that the University Student Union 3 00:00:10,769 --> 00:00:15,299 made a commitment to assist veterans as they transitioned here, whether from the military 4 00:00:15,299 --> 00:00:19,480 or from a community college, and that we had support systems in place for them. 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,640 Well working here actually is a...I think a great opportunity to be part of not only 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,589 the campus, but a non-profit organization...so it brings an opportunity to expand...not only 7 00:00:28,589 --> 00:00:31,619 in my customer service skills, but also in the marketing... 8 00:00:31,619 --> 00:00:37,170 So for me, like, being a peer mentor for the VRC, basically allows me to help out other 9 00:00:37,170 --> 00:00:42,600 people, mainly veterans, like say if they have issues or something like that...with...you 10 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,300 know finding out something about school...it’s my job to help guide them towards that resource 11 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:52,500 and then...basically I find out the information, I pass it along, and then you know...hopefully 12 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:54,380 everything goes well for the veteran. 13 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:58,140 I feel that the VRC is helping myself and other veterans through peer mentorship and 14 00:00:58,140 --> 00:01:03,350 involvement and camaraderie...it helps with the transition from military to civilian life. 15 00:01:03,350 --> 00:01:06,880 It’s very different...military and civilian life and especially academic life...from what 16 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,829 we’re accustomed to. 17 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,300 So, now with the Veteran Resource Center, we do have a place where most veterans are 18 00:01:16,399 --> 00:01:21,000 around the same age, so you can relate to them a lot easier. 19 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:28,429 So, this year, the VRC has made Games Night our signature program, where we rent out the 20 00:01:28,429 --> 00:01:32,780 USU Games Room, and have food and free gaming for veterans and dependents, and any student 21 00:01:32,780 --> 00:01:35,929 who wants to stop by and get to know student veterans. 22 00:01:35,929 --> 00:01:39,859 What I enjoy most about game night...it’s just a good stress relief in the middle of 23 00:01:39,859 --> 00:01:44,700 the week...a few friends, a lot of cool people that I see at the VRC, pretty much on a day-to-day basis. 24 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:50,270 We’ve also done a few film screenings...so we’ve brought “The Invisible War,” about military 25 00:01:50,270 --> 00:01:54,869 sexual trauma, and screened that, and then just this spring semester, “High Ground,” 26 00:01:54,869 --> 00:02:00,649 a film about a group of veterans who summited a mountain in the Himalayans. So it’s nice 27 00:02:00,649 --> 00:02:05,009 to be able to do some outreach so that other students on campus, whether they are veterans or not, 28 00:02:05,009 --> 00:02:09,470 can really connect with us...and be part of the VRC. 29 00:02:09,470 --> 00:02:14,810 I think the VRC provides a comfort zone for veterans who are transitioning between...you 30 00:02:14,810 --> 00:02:18,630 know...military life and becoming a student and so this just makes them feel a lot more 31 00:02:18,630 --> 00:02:21,730 comfortable knowing that they have people they can relate to. 32 00:02:21,730 --> 00:02:28,550 It helps as a bridge here in the campus to kind of get the eye off of...like the image 33 00:02:28,550 --> 00:02:31,320 that normally people have over veterans. 34 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,910 The Veterans Day celebration this year on our campus had the theme of “Beyond the Label,” 35 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:40,320 so what it means to be a veteran at CSUN, but really what it means to be a student at 36 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,090 CSUN, and also a veteran...so it was a great way to focus on the student assistants in 37 00:02:45,090 --> 00:02:50,120 the VRC, their majors, what they do outside of work and school, and what it means for 38 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,670 them to be a student here, and also a veteran.