I'm making the deliberate decision to return to an institution of higher learning as a non-traditional student for the following three reasons. The first reason is to lead by example as a father in a way that inspires beyond the verbal communication I give to my children. Secondly, I wanted to earn an actual degree versus an equivalency of a degree from various higher learning institutions I’ve attend since adulthood. Thirdly, in exchange for my decision to attend college again I’m learning how to tap into financial resources I earned while I was in the serving in the military and other resources newly discovered as a veteran with service-connected disabilities which helps my family sustain our financial stability. After a nearly thirty-year career in the Army bringing my uniqueness to the campus of Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) will be both rewarding and refreshing. I hope to learn embrace some new habits, erase some old habits, and cultivate new relationships beyond my military family. I hope that my son who is also a NLC student can be inspired to always seek self-improvement, look for opportunities to lead, and invest in himself to increase the odds of success in all future endeavors. And, for my daughter who’s a high school junior I hope she sees her brother and I role models as she begins to formulate her own plan toward future success beyond high school. I will use this experience that I am gaining at NLC and weave it into my legacy as a productive member of society. I have traveled the world and I have performed missions in countries where there is little to zero opportunities to live your best life or fulfill your potential due to lack of food, shelter, education, and finances. I believe success is muscle memory by that I mean, once you have laid down a repetitive of pattern of mission and goal accomplishment it will become who you are. I will not become complacent or allow my disabilities prevent me from achieving my goals along my personal road to awesome. I want to continue my servant leadership because I believe it is the special sauce, secret ingredient, and magic dust of leading to a powerful realized quotient of future leaders and innovators. In conclusion, while traveling on one's personal road to awesome I will advocate for myself in pursuit of my higher education goals and be a veteran ambassador for the students I am surrounded by. I will use my platform to champion service careers as I interact as a non-traditional student leading by example both academically and fundamentally. I will mentor other like-minded servant leaders who aspire to be seen, included, and respected in their daily lives. A favorite quote I delivered to my Soldiers as I was medically retired from the Army was, “You don’t know what your account balance of Personal Courage is until that situation presents itself where that check needs to be written and cashed”.