Our Veterans' Services Coordinator
Poster Child for Life-long Learning
by Janet Corey
My mother was worried that I would become a “professional student,” which was considered lazy and unmotivated in the mid-1970s. Well, I did spend many of the past 30 years in classrooms as a student, but not because I was lazy and unmotivated, but because I wanted to better myself professionally and broaden my knowledge.
Originally from Barberton, Ohio, I graduated out of the last class from St. Mary’s High School in Akron. I earned a B.A. in political science at Duquesne University as a traditional undergraduate student. I tried law school as a part time evening student here at The University of Akron’s School of Law. However, working as a waitress full time and attending law school, even part time was too much. I was overwhelmed. I decided to quit and joined the Navy.
After spending almost three years in San Diego as a departmental administrative assistant at a training command, the Navy sent me to San Diego State University full-time to earn a graduate degree, an M.A. in educational administration. I guess during that time I WAS a professional student, since the Navy paid my tuition and living expenses and going to school was my full-time assignment. I served in the U.S. Navy for 11 years of active duty and 10 years in the Reserves, retiring as a Commander. In the Navy, my specialties were training administration, instructing, and financial management.
I didn’t set foot into a formal classroom again for nearly 15 years. As I neared my 40th birthday, I was dissatisfied with where I was professionally. I was divorced, raising a young son and working as an investigator for the Summit County Child Support Enforcement Agency. After considering either returning to law school or going to Ohio University full-time for a second bachelor’s degree in outdoor education, I received a brochure from Stark Technical College. Through my employment I could take eight credits a semester tuition-free. So, I went to Stark for two evenings a week for four semesters, completing the core coursework for an associate’s degree in accounting. I finished with a 4.0 GPA despite raising a son, running a home, working full-time, drilling in the Navy Reserves, and being a Cub Scout Den Leader. But that additional schooling led to me being an internal auditor for the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation. A job I held for nearly 10 years.
As you can see, I’ve been a traditional college student, an adult student, a full-time day student, and a part-time evening school student. Two of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years are that anyone can achieve their educational goals, no matter their other obligations or how long it may take, and people’s educational goals can evolve over the course of their lives.
Last year, I “retired” from working for the State of Ohio and then spent nine months of volunteering full-time at an alternative high school for dropouts and at-risk youth in eastern Kentucky. Since August, I’ve worked in Adult Focus at The University of Akron as an AmeriCorps* VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America). I am helping to create a new position, Veterans' Services Coordinator, someone who works with others on campus to help veterans make a successful transition to college life. My major projects include: forming two organizations, one for students who are veterans and a second for their family members; educating the University population about veterans' issues and the best practices for helping veterans succeed in an academic environment; and building relationships with local agencies and organizations that assist veterans, so that local veterans are aware of the programs and services available at UA.
Even though my hair is now gray and some people say I look like a grandmother, I’ve already decided that when my VISTA service is complete, I intend to earn an advanced degree in a demanding field here at The University of Akron, full-time and on my own nickel. Wish me luck!