From Combat to College

BY JORDAN FRAZIER

SC Contributing Writer

 

Bryan Adams spoke at East Stroudsburg University at the Keystone Room about his war experiences in Iraq on Tuesday, October 8, 2013.

Adams came to talk to the University about two things: to describe his experiences during the war before entering college, and to talk about mental health awareness among college students.

During his time speaking, he described how his grandfather influenced his decision to enter the military. After high school, Adams was stationed in Germany before being sent off to Iraq.

Adams described how when he was at camp and there was hardly any time for rest because all of his fellow soldiers were always on duty or playing games.

Adams went into detail of his life before Iraq and how it was a time of bliss. Then, he felt fear for the first time in his life.

Entering Iraq, he lost his friends and captains all in the name of American freedoms.

After surviving ambush attacks and getting recovery, he refused to seek help until he came back home and entered college.

Back in civilian life, Adams slowly discovered that he had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and found it difficult to except that. His body was revenging that his mind needed help.

He met with a few other veterans who were around campus. At last he got a purple heart for his services in the war, but as a result of his experiences, he used to have nightmares from all the horrors that happened during the war, such as seeing his friend’s legs blown off and weeping parents.

Adams never saw that intense type of fear of death in his life prior to combat.

Now as a veteran, Adams is a speaker for Active Minds. Active Minds is a national organization that allows students to talk about mental illness. He also leads Veteran’s Affairs at his university, Rutgers, in New Jersey.

Stressing the importance of mental health, Adams encourages people to get involved and go to counseling services and have dialogue with people about their problems. He is concerned about how people of Millennial Generation in charge of the future of America.

Like Rutgers, ESU has their own Active Minds club. Adams is a speaker for his club at Rutgers. Adams emphasizes mental healthbecause he is an example that people can relate to discussing their problems. It is good to know there is someone out there doing his best to make a difference in this country, despite all that has happened over the past decade.

This was an inspirational lecture and it shows that if you can put your mind to it, you can do anything.

Events like this offered on campus provide students an opportunity to learn and get involved. It is important to know that there is help for those who need it. God Bless America.

 

Email Jordan at:

jfrazier@live.esu.edu