Returning to college as a 42-year-old military veteran, I expected a fresh start—a chance to build a new career and apply my years of real-world experience to a field I was genuinely interested in. But the excitement quickly faded, replaced by a frustrating reality that left me questioning the value of the whole experience. Instead of finding a practical and career-focused program, I was met with a rigid degree plan filled with seemingly unrelated courses and an overwhelming focus on ideology over education.

One of the first things that struck me was the disconnect between my life experience and what the college actually valued. I’ve spent years handling high-stress environments, taking on real responsibilities, and managing complex systems—things that have taught me far more than any introductory class could. But none of that seemed to count for anything. Instead, I was required to take courses like animal biology, a class with no connection to my degree in computer science, and that seemed like a waste of time and money. It felt like the college was ignoring what I brought to the table, treating everyone, regardless of background, like we were fresh out of high school.

To make matters worse, there was this underlying agenda that seemed to permeate everything. As a veteran, I walked into college expecting academic challenges and practical learning, but I found myself in an environment more focused on social justice initiatives than preparing students for the workforce. Whether in required courses or through mandatory “diversity and inclusion” training, it felt like the school was more interested in pushing a certain ideology than providing an unbiased education. These topics weren’t open for discussion or debate—they were presented as truths that everyone was expected to accept without question.

From my perspective as a veteran, this was more than frustrating—it was alienating. I’ve been in real-world situations where ideologies didn’t matter; what mattered was teamwork, mission success, and survival. The practical, straightforward approach that defines the military was nowhere to be found in my classes. Instead, I felt like my own life experiences and views were out of place, unwelcome in an academic culture that seemed to value conformity to a single set of beliefs rather than true diversity of thought. Ironically, while universities claim to champion free speech and inclusivity, I often felt like my perspective was marginalized simply because it didn’t align with the prevailing narrative.

All of this has left me questioning if the degree is worth it. I came to college to get a solid education, something that would translate to job skills and open doors in my new career path. Instead, I’ve been spending time and money on courses that don’t align with my goals and sitting through mandatory ideology training. The financial burden—tuition, books, and the time I could have spent actually working toward my career—is heavy, and the experience has felt like anything but an efficient pathway to a job.

For veterans and other non-traditional students, there are probably better options out there: technical certifications, online courses, or starting a business without the ideological baggage and rigid requirements of a traditional degree program. Colleges need to wake up to the fact that students like me aren’t looking for an ideological experience; we’re looking for a career-focused education. If universities truly value the experiences veterans bring, they’d start by respecting our backgrounds, focusing on practical skills, and allowing us to pursue our education without mandatory indoctrination. Until then, it’s hard not to feel like universities are more interested in shaping minds to fit a certain mold than in actually preparing us for the real world.