NORTH CANTON, Ohio (WJW) — It doesn’t matter what branch they served in or what they did, after leaving the military, a lot of veterans have one big question they need to answer for themselves.

“You go from having such a busy schedule – I have all this free time on my hands,” said Navy Veteran Trevor Carey. “What do I do with it?”

For almost five years, Trevor’s office was aboard an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer working in anti-ship missile defense. Not really a skill you need in civilian life. Nor do you really need to know how to coordinate artillery and air strikes like Xavier Beltre did in the army for 10 years.

“You have ideas. You know what you want to do, you’re excited to leave and go on to that next step in life, but there are a lot of uncertainties, and you could have a plan that might not work.” Xavier said.

“I see a little bit of myself in everyone that I speak to,” said Joshua Ruiz, Walsh University’s Veterans Affairs Coordinator. And after eight years in the Marine Corps and three combat tours, he knows what other veterans are talking about.

“There is always something in the back of your head that’s poking or probing at you saying this might not be the right thing for you to do and what you have to do is take that voice and turn it into some sort of motivation.” Joshua said.

Joshua turned his own uncertainty about his after-military life into goals that led to degrees in education and management, and he’s now working for Walsh’s veterans.

He helps them find a path to take the commitment to community service beyond the uniform. “Making sure that you hone in on all those skills you learned in the military,” Joshua said. “My ultimate goal, as I said earlier, is that veterans are successful and are making the right decisions for themselves.”

And for many veterans, that right decision was joining the military in the first place.

Army veteran Colwyn Driver has always wanted to attend college and become a teacher. Joshua helped him maximize the GI benefits he earned, which helped get him to Walsh. Colywn says his time in the army – he hopes – will translate into leadership in the classroom

“My first job, I worked as a camp counselor at a boy scout camp when I was 16,” said Colywn. “I loved that job. I loved teaching that age group – that’s 11 to 17. It felt fulfilling to me. I think it (the Army) will give me structure that I didn’t have, and I think it will allow me to have a more commanding presence in a classroom where I’m able to understand. I’m here to learn those skills.”

Joshua says creating an atmosphere on campus that welcomes veterans is also very important. Walsh is a small school but is designated as one of the top ten military-friendly colleges in the U.S.

The whole college community actively supports veterans on campus.

Joshua says things like the annual challenge event breaks the ice and lets people understand that veterans, although a little older, are just another student but with a little more life experience.  And many of the veterans going to Walsh plan to spend their time learning how they can serve others out of the uniform.

From future doctors… “In my head, I had this image that I might be a little alienated because I’m a little older than my classmates and it won’t fit in. Turns out I fit in very quickly,” Xavier said.

To future physical therapists… “You worked for you, worked really hard for it and to use everything you have to your benefit,” said Trevor. “Take the time reach out, ask the questions you don’t know.”

Going to college or what ever career you decide is a part of what a veteran earns for the time they served their country.

Joshua says everyone here works hard to make sure that veterans know that once their military service ends they can still serve others in so many different ways.

“It’s not about enrollment, it’s not about them coming here. It’s about making sure they serve a purpose for themselves and that purpose wakes them up every day,” Joshua said.

In addition to the large number of veterans as students — about two dozen members of the faculty are also veterans including the university’s president.

Walsh University is in North Canton, Ohio. To find out more about Walsh Veterans Affairs, click here.