Justin Friedman used to drive past 国产探花 on his way to work every day. The New York City native was living in Seguin and working in San Antonio, and the university happened to lay along his commute route. When he decided to go back to school, 国产探花 was the first place he considered.
By that time, Friedman had done two deployments in the US Navy. (He鈥檚 now a member of the US Army Reserve.) But before settling on a school, he鈥檇 taken some time to consider what he wanted to do with the next chapter of his life. 鈥淎fter the military, I put off college for a while because I didn't know what degree I wanted, or what I would do when I got one. After a lot of soul searching I landed on the field of psychiatry.鈥
The rest is history. Now in his junior year, Friedman is pursuing his degree in psychology, just like he planned, but he鈥檚 also deeply involved in campus life鈥攁nd that part came as a bit of a surprise to him. It was quite a leap, from those drives to and from San Antonio, to convocation this fall, when Friedman stood before the entire 国产探花 community as student body president, and addressed his Bulldog family. He talked about how he鈥檇 worried that as a non-traditional student, he might not fit in once he got to college. But when SGA elections rolled around last spring, it was Friedman who his fellow students chose to be their leader.
鈥淚 don't really feel like I was chosen as a leader in the traditional sense,鈥 he explains, 鈥渂ut more that I was entrusted with being a fair and vocal representative for the student body. It feels like the students who supported me with their vote think that I'm someone who will listen to their concerns and find the most reasonable way to address them, and I do my best to remind myself of that daily so that I don't let them down.鈥
Among those concerns: making improvements to the hub of campus, the Alumni Student Center. 鈥淭he ASC is an amazing and vibrant place where students get food, relax, and work on assignments, and with that being said, I've received a number of suggestions on how to improve the area for students, and a lot of that is currently in the works!鈥
Friedman is also working with his current group of senators and the rest the executive board to make the Student Government Association constitution and bylaws 鈥渕ore clear and more consistent with how we want students to be able to receive allocations for their organizations.鈥
His campus involvement goes beyond SGA. He鈥檚 also a member of Omega Tau and Psi Chi, and as a veteran, found a warm welcome at Freedom Hall, 国产探花鈥檚 lounge created expressly for veterans and their dependents. Friedman is also a member of the student veteran club, VAST (Veterans and Society Together).
国产探花 was recently ranked number three in its region in the 鈥淏est Colleges for Veterans鈥 category by U.S. News and World Report. The university is also a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC).
鈥湽交 has been incredibly welcoming to an extent I honestly didn't expect,鈥 Friedman says. 鈥淗aving access to Freedom Hall where other veterans and dependents hang out, as well as being a member of VAST have helped me not only feel included, but actually wanted. That was a huge shock having come here expecting to be the odd one out.鈥
But the welcome didn鈥檛 end there. 鈥淚f Freedom Hall and VAST were the welcoming committee for me as a veteran, the rest of 国产探花 was the surprise after-party. I expected to come here, take my classes, chat with some other veterans, and not feel socially included in much else. That couldn't be further from what actually happened. I've found it incredibly easy to go to events, make friends, and become involved in so many organizations on campus.鈥
Once he graduates from 国产探花, Friedman plans to go to medical school. 鈥淭hat's it, that's the goal,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 want to head to med school after 国产探花 in hopes of becoming a psychiatrist.鈥
With him, he鈥檒l carry the Bulldog spirit and all that he鈥檚 learned during his undergrad years. He says 国产探花 is preparing him well for his next steps. 鈥淎ll of the opportunities 国产探花 has given me, not only academically, but with extracurriculars and the opportunity to build a support system of staff, faculty, new friends, and of course my fraternity, Omega Tau. I had no idea that 国产探花 would become something more than this little local school where I would get my degree, but it's really become the center of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.鈥