What does it take to be a student veteran? A willingness to serve. A commitment to country and to others. Courage to face unknowns and to learn under pressure. Student veterans exemplify the Volunteer spirit in these ways and in many others. Tri Truong (’24) and Megan Byrd (’24) are no different.
They are both driven and focused. Not only did they choose to enlist, but they also chose to follow their academic dreams. Truong and Byrd are both first-generation students working to complete their college degrees. Each has their own story which led them to the military and eventually to Rocky Top.
Tri Truong, Private First Class
Tri Truong and his niece Ella.
Truong left for basic training shortly after high school graduation choosing the Army National Guard. He spent almost a year in training, and currently he serves as a Private First Class with the 252nd MP Company in Oneida, Tennessee. His primary duty is as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.
“The military life is less stressful because everything is planned out,” said Truong. “You’ve just got to do it.” When reflecting about why he chose to enlist, Truong said, “I feel like structure and discipline are the only things keeping me together.”
Truong flourishes with structure in his life and attributes that to growing up with a father who also served. Truong’s father was an officer in the Vietnamese military and raised Truong and his sister with discipline and direction.
Starting a college experience during COVID was challenging, but Truong found ways to connect. He attends class in-person whenever he can and drops by the Veterans Resource Center every morning. “I get most of my work done here,” said Truong. “Most of my friends are here.”
Truong encourages other first-generation students to stay disciplined and work toward their goals.
“You are the one who cares the most about your own success. You have to stay motivated.”
Megan Byrd, Sargeant
Sargeant Megan Byrd
Megan Byrd surprised her family when she signed on with the Marine Corps. One of three sisters, Byrd was always seen as the most academically focused. Since she was young, she was interested in medicine and had always done well in her classes.
Leading up to high school graduation, Byrd’s family situation changed, and she chose to delay college and join the military like her older sister.
“I think some of my characteristics that have helped me succeed in both the Marine Corps and as a first-generation college student are my determination and stubbornness. Meaning, once I start something I won’t stop until I achieve what I am going after,” said Byrd.
Byrd and her family were proud when this determination aided her completion of the rigorous Marine Corps training process through bootcamp, Marine Combat Training, and her job training. “You don’t ever succeed by not trying at all. Go after whatever you have your heart and mind set on and if you fail get back up and try again. Most of my failures have been major life lessons for me, and I have grown better from them,” said Byrd.
After serving four and a half years as an air traffic controller and five years total service in Hawaii at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Byrd returned to her academic pursuits with a revived confidence in her abilities and focus that can only be learned through life experience. She is now at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in her element, and working on her degree.
This year, Byrd has leaned on fellow veterans and staff in the Veterans Resource Center during her first-year at UT. “They genuinely care because they have experienced the same struggles of getting out of the military, moving, and starting college after not being in school for several years. Having the veteran community has had a great impact because I knew I was going to be part of this community before I even got here and it has definitely made the transition into college so much easier,” reflects Byrd.