Veteran overcomes obstacles to attain college education
Veterans can face many challenges when making the transition from military life back to civilian life, whether its finding work, finding a home, or going back to school. For one veteran working at the Run White and Blue 5k, she faced all of those challenges and persevered.
Terry Plank is just one of countless vets being aided by Del Tech.
Plank served for two and a half years in the United States Army, but after she was honorably discharged she says she felt lost.
The paralegal-to-be ripped her shoulder out while serving at Fort Campbell in Kentucky leading to her discharge. Following her career in the army, Terry was met with the harsh reality of civilian life.
"When I, myself ended up homeless and didn't have a place to lay my head, I came out here and spoke with a gentleman named Rob Bates who helped get me hooked up with some of the services that are offered in the Sussex area. He helped me get a house, he helped me do my FAFSA paperwork, he helped me get everything done and it was just the fact that Del Tech went that extra step and really does care about its veterans."
Returning to civilian life and getting back on her feet was one obstacle, but returning to school turned out to be a totally different monster.
"Being in the military, we get trained to recognize a threat, to take out your threats, and then when you get into a classroom environment where you don't know everything and you can't control it, it's difficult."
And once Terry found the help she needed, she turned around and did her part to return the favor to her brothers and sisters in uniform.
"But I… wasn't done serving my vets. I wasn't done helping out my brothers and sisters. So once I got out of the military and I finally found a school that felt fit me, I went ahead and found out about our veterans group and started pushing forward to help with the veterans out here."
Plank says she selected Del Tech because of the work they do to help vets.
She volunteered Thursday for the Run, White and Blue 5K that benefits vets and first responders by putting the money toward scholarships.
To her, this money can make all the difference to vets who need that extra boost.
"This scholarship can mean the difference between $30,000 a year and $45,000 a year. It's just a huge opportunity to help out the individuals who cannot at the time help themselves. It lets us be the helping hand when they need it."
