Adjusting to civilian life as a veteran can be difficult, especially when navigating the demands of college.

But for Kenneth McLaughlin and Douglas Starkey, the lessons learned during their military careers have helped them thrive at Oklahoma State University.

“One thing the Marines taught me is that whenever I was struggling, my instructor told me to learn by brute force,” said McLaughlin, a mechanical engineering junior. “Whenever you don't understand a concept, keep watching videos, keep writing it down, keep at it until eventually it becomes secondhand knowledge.”

McLaughlin, who earned the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps, dreamed of attending OSU from a young age.

Growing up in Skiatook, Oklahoma, he had his sights set on becoming a Cowboy. However, life took him in an unexpected direction, delaying his college plans. Knowing he would eventually pursue higher education, McLaughlin saw military service as an opportunity to help finance his degree.

“I had to pay for college somehow,” McLaughlin said. “So I went to the Marine Corps recruit depot, and they gave me a navy blue shirt with a red EGA (Eagle, Globe and Anchor, official emblem of the Marines).”

For Starkey, enlisting in the military was a family tradition.

“I grew up as an Army brat,” said the exercise science sophomore. “My dad was in the Army for 20 years, and I almost followed suit, but I ended up joining the Marine Corps.”

A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Starkey, who served as a corporal, credits his military experience with how he has grown in his college career.

“The habits that the military has instilled in you will have a direct carryover in how you conduct your academics,” Starkey said. “As long as you can find your people.”

And OSU has resources to help student veterans find their people. McLaughlin and Starkey have both benefited from Military-Affiliated Student Support, a program that provides resources, support services and opportunities to connect with student veterans who share similar experiences.

“It's a place where military-affiliated people go down and just hang out,” McLaughlin said. “I actually go there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to eat breakfast, just for a little calm.”

Located in the Student Union basement, the Military-Affiliated Student Support program’s goal is to provide opportunities for students to succeed. Students can also socialize while playing board games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, and video games.

“For those military-affiliated students who have not come to the basement center, come hang out for a while,” said Rob Bodick, Military-Affiliated Student Support coordinator.

Starkey appreciates the structure OSU has built.

“OSU has created an environment with program resources as a glue,” Starkey said. “They are a filler to connect fellow students and academics together. It makes sense.”

In addition to the community support available to student veterans, McLaughlin attributes OSU’s mental health services to helping him get to where he is today. When he and his wife, Marlie, were facing personal hardships, he was referred to the Student Counseling Center, which offers students their first six counseling sessions free of charge.

“They gave me mental health resources when I needed it,” McLaughlin said. “Many military veterans have mental health challenges, whether it be depression, anxiety or PTSD.”

Both McLaughlin and Starkey are nontraditional students, but their unconventional paths to higher education haven’t hindered their success. In fact, it has been the opposite.

Starkey says his life experiences, particularly his military service, have shaped his mindset, teaching him to recognize his limits and become a better student.

“I've had to teach myself that when I come up on certain psychological milestones, it's time to put things down,” Starkey said. “If I push on any further, then the fatigue carries on to the next day, and then any schoolwork I do isn’t as good.”

McLaughlin looks back and recognizes that every unexpected detour ultimately led him to fulfill his dream of attending OSU. Although it took him a long time, he is excited to be a college student and is content knowing his fellow student veterans are right alongside him. He might not be in the military anymore, but he has found camaraderie in the Cowboy family.

“A third of my life has been dedicated to getting to this point,” McLaughlin said. “To finally be a part of it is surreal.”

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Story By: Rachel Teran | rachel.teran10@okstate.edu