NNEEWWSSMay 4, 2012 The Critic, Page 9

Chris Hogan

Critic Correspondent

In the next week, many of the students here at Lyn-don State College will be packing up their things andheading home for the summer.

When heading home kids get to shift from schoolmode to summer mode. This means anything from jobsand summer sports to vacations and relaxation.

Transitioning from school to summer will not comewithout its own hitches though. Freshman Dylan Chasesaid that, 8I:m defiantly going to miss all my friends I:vemade over the course of the year here.9

For others it:s going to be easier.Eric Samson says, 8I:m from a larger community

than Lyndon, so going home for me is quite easy becausethere are many things to do to keep me busy.9

A good way for a college student to keep busy in thesummertime is to get a job. Sophomore EJA MajorDaniel Weiner works at Hannaford:s in Wells, Maine toearn some extra cash. 8Summer jobs are crucial to anycollege student, with all the expenses we pay.9

Sophomore Courtland Hanley spends his summerworking at a local Italian restaurant, as a pizza chef.

8I first started out as a lowly dishwasher,9 Hanleysays, 8But I was able to get moved up and now I:m apizza cook. I also do other things if they need it, likeprep work and the dishes too.9

Expenses that students have to pay include that ofhousing and dining hall meal plans. While paying for the

meal plan one of the options is Stevens Dining Hall,which you can have an unlimited amount of meals if youdesire to choose as your plan.

Another expense that students pay are for books.While the books found in the Lyndon State bookstoretend be a little pricey, students usually find them onlinefor a more reasonable price.

While most of the college kids are heading backhome, freshmen Maggie Harrington has plans to say inthe town of Lyndonville. She said her plans were to 8Liveat my apartment here in Lyndonville, and work to helppay for it.9

There are many things for students to do when theschool year finally comes to a close and everyone is sentoff to do whatever they so please.

Sarah AubeCritic Correspondent

Over 25 students at Lyndon StateCollege are veterans.

Many of these students have differ-ent attitudes about college because oftheir experiences.

One of these things is respect for au-thority figures.

8It:s because of the discipline in themilitary,9 says Mark Hoffmann, presidentof the LSC veterans club. 8When some-one is up front speaking, you owe themthe respect of listening.9

Hoffmann served 27 years in theArmy, and has now been retired for 8years. He is graduating this May with aBachelor:s degree in business.

Dennis Querrard, who has been re-tired from the navy for four years afterserving for 20, agrees with Hoffmann,saying he gets frustrated when there arestudents talking amongst themselves inthe back of the classroom, or using com-puters while the professor is lecturing.

8We don:t expect that here,9 saysQuerrard.

The change of structure is somethingthat also bothers Mark Emerson, whoserved in the Air Force for 21 years. Heretired 10 years ago, and is now a juniorstudying environmental science.

8I was used to being in the militarywhere there is always that set of rules youhave to play by,9 says Emerson. He saysthe lack of structure in school is, 8nervewracking. I miss my structure. It:s hardto adapt.9

It is also a different experience forthem socially than it is for traditional stu-dents.

8We don:t bond the same way,9 saysQuerrard. 8We don:t have the same con-nections. You generally find yourself com-municating with other veterans becauseit:s hard to communicate with non-veter-ans. We have a different perspective.9

Hoffmann adds, 8I think we:d rathertalk together about world events thanabout what we did this morning or lastnight.9

Most vets also feel that they aremore serious about school than the aver-age student coming straight from highschool.This is both because of their ex-perience in the military, and also becausethey are generally older than studentsright out of high school.

Querrard says, 8We see the benefitswe:re going to get out of it. We have seenwhat it:s like to work in the outside with-out an education, whether in the militaryor not.9

Hoffmann adds, 8Going to college isnot a right, it:s a privilege. For the veter-ans, it:s definitely a privilege.9

One of the few female veterans oncampus, Liz Harrison, has been in thearmy for four years.

8Being older in school and having ex-perienced different things is an advan-tage,9 says Harrison.

She also says that she feels that shehas learned to appreciate life more be-cause of her experiences.

8Sometimes people in general don:tthink that you:re time here is precious,9says Harrison. She:s learned to appreciatelife more since she:s been in the Army8because you don:t know when you:re ona mission if you:re coming back, <or= ifyou:re going to be hit.9

Harrison also spoke about some ofthe trials that she faced in the military.

After seeing someone who was closeto her die and not being able to say herlast words, she lives by the phrase, 8liveeach day as it were your last, you onlyhave one chance.9

Emerson says that worst part for himof serving in the Air Force was holidays.

8I just tried not to think about them.I made it home for Christmas twice in 21years,9 says Emerson.

Hoffmann says it is harder for thefamilies than it is for the soldier.

8It:s really tough on the families. Thefamily misses them every day. They knowthat member of the family is not thereand they are probably in harm:s way,9 saysHoffmann.

He says that the soldier at least hasthe distraction of the job, and they can

focus on that.The veterans agree that life in

the military was a challenge and theyfeel like it has taught them a lot.

8I wanted to serve my country,9said Harrison. 8I:ve always wanted tobe in the military. I wanted a chal-lenge.9

Hoffmann agrees that he waslooking for more of a challenge, aftergoing to college and earning an asso-ciate:s degree right after high school.

8I was looking for somethingmore. I get bored really easy and in

the military, it was always different,9Hoffmann says.

Emerson says his favorite partwas the travelling.

8I loved it. I love travelling. I wenteverywhere. I still want to see the GreatWall of China, go to Italy, go to NewZealand,9 says Hoffmann.

The main thing that Hoffmann,as the veteran club president, wantsis for more people to be aware of vet-erans on campus.

8We are making it aware to theLyndon State College that veteransare here,9 says Hoffman.

Students Shift Into Summer

Lessons Learned From Our Veterans

File PhotosLSC students and veterans Mark Hoffman, top, and Mark Emerson, bottom