In this first-person narrative, Lake Tahoe Track Leader and a Lecturer II at the Orvis School of Nursing, Julie Sawyer, reflects on how her time serving our country inspired her decision to study, and now teach, nursing.
I served in the United States Army from 2001 to 2006, including a deployment to Afghanistan. When I reflect on my time in the military, I think about much more than the places I went or the training I completed. I think about the people I served alongside, the experiences that shaped me, and the sense of camaraderie that is difficult to fully describe unless you've experienced it.
There is something unique about military service. You become part of something much bigger than yourself. You learn to put the needs of others before your own, to depend on the people beside you, and to work together toward a common purpose. The relationships you build are rooted in trust, shared experiences, and an understanding that often doesn't require words.
The Army taught me the value of camaraderie and shared purpose. My transition into college taught me the importance of belonging. And my career in nursing education has given me the opportunity to create that sense of belonging for others.
When I transitioned out of the Army, losing that sense of camaraderie was one of the hardest adjustments. I went from an environment where I had a strong sense of identity, structure and belonging to trying to figure out where I fit in civilian life. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care, but having a direction didn't necessarily make the transition easier.
Returning to college brought another set of challenges that I hadn't fully anticipated.
My interest in health care began during my military service through my training as a Combat Lifesaver. After leaving the Army, I started working at Eagle Valley Children's Home in Carson City as a direct care trainer, supporting children and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. It was a very different environment from the military, but it gave me an opportunity to continue caring for others and begin finding a new sense of purpose. During my time there, I started pursuing my nursing education.
Returning to college brought another set of challenges that I hadn't fully anticipated.
I remember sitting in classrooms alongside students who had recently graduated from high school. Many were just beginning their adult lives, while I had already spent years in the Army, completed specialized military training, deployed to a combat zone, and been part of a community unlike anything I had known before.
It wasn't that I couldn't connect with my classmates. We were simply at very different places in our lives. I had gained so much life experience during my military service, and at times, I felt out of place. I missed being around people who understood that part of my life without needing an explanation.
Then, in one of my classes, I met another veteran.
We connected through our shared experiences, and I remember what a breath of fresh air that was. There was an immediate sense of understanding. I didn't have to explain my background or why I viewed certain things differently. That connection made my transition into college a little easier, and it reminded me just how important it is to feel that you belong.
That experience has stayed with me throughout my career, particularly now that I work in higher education. It gave me a firsthand appreciation for the value of student veteran organizations, mentorship and the communities universities create to help veterans successfully transition into academic life.
I never would have imagined that my journey from the Army would eventually lead me into nursing education.
My nursing career took me into rural emergency departments, primary care clinics, tribal health care and underserved communities. Along the way, I began to recognize how much my military experiences continued to influence the nurse I was becoming.
The Army taught me to adapt, think critically under pressure, work as part of a team, and take responsibility for the people depending on me. Those skills translated naturally into nursing, particularly in rural health care, where resources can be limited, and nurses often fill multiple roles.
Today, I serve as a faculty member at the University's Orvis School of Nursing and as the BSN track leader at the University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe. I've also earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Looking back, I never would have imagined that my journey from the Army would eventually lead me into nursing education and the opportunity to help shape the experiences of future nurses.
One of the most meaningful aspects of my work today is helping students find their own sense of belonging and purpose.
I was fortunate to be a co-founder of the Native Nurse Scholars Pathway at the Orvis School of Nursing, an initiative designed to provide mentorship, support, and community for Native American students pursuing nursing careers. While the pathway is specifically focused on supporting Native students and their unique educational and cultural experiences, the importance of mentorship, connection, and belonging resonates deeply with my own journey.
When I think about Veterans Day, I also think about what I wish more people understood about military service.
I understand what it feels like to enter college with a different background and wonder where you fit. I also know how much difference one meaningful connection can make.
My hope is to continue developing similar opportunities for students whose backgrounds or life experiences may make their educational journeys different from those of traditional college students. Whether they are veterans, first-generation college students, or individuals returning to school after years in the workforce, every student deserves to feel supported, valued, and connected.
My uniform may have changed, but my commitment to serving others never did.
I often think back to that one veteran I met in nursing school. It wasn't a formal mentorship program or an organized support group. It was simply another person who understood my experiences. That connection made a difference for me, and it continues to influence the way I approach student support today.
When I think about Veterans Day, I also think about what I wish more people understood about military service.
Military service changes you in ways that are difficult to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. You learn the true meaning of selfless service, sacrifice, and depending on the people beside you. Those experiences don't disappear when you take off the uniform. They become part of who you are and how you move through the world.
Some of those experiences are incredibly rewarding, while others are difficult to put into words. I don't believe someone has to serve in the military to appreciate those sacrifices, but there is a unique understanding that comes from having lived those experiences together. That shared understanding is part of what makes the bond between veterans so meaningful.
For me, Veterans Day is about honoring the people I served alongside, remembering the sacrifices made by service members and their families, and recognizing that military service continues to shape our lives long after we leave the military.
It's also about recognizing that veterans bring tremendous value to our communities, workplaces, and universities. Their experiences may be different from those of their peers, but those differences bring perspectives, resilience, leadership, and a commitment to service that deserve to be recognized.
When I look back at my journey, from serving in Afghanistan to working at Eagle Valley Children's Home, becoming a nurse, and eventually finding my place in higher education, I see how each chapter helped shape the next.
The Army taught me the value of camaraderie and shared purpose. My transition into college taught me the importance of belonging. And my career in nursing education has given me the opportunity to create that sense of belonging for others.
My uniform may have changed, but my commitment to serving others never did.
The Army taught me that service isn't always about what you accomplish for yourself. It's about what you're willing to give for others. That lesson has followed me from Afghanistan to the bedside as a nurse and now into the classroom as an educator.
My uniform may have changed, but my commitment to serving others never did.
And that, to me, is what Veterans Day represents: honoring those who served, remembering the experiences and sacrifices that shaped us, and recognizing that our commitment to serving others can continue long after our military service ends.
