By Marquita Brown and Olivia Herstein
Long before she was sworn in as a state senator representing California’s 20th District and known for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, Caroline Menjivar was a Matador undergrad.
But she didn’t have the typical college experience.
When Menjivar enrolled at CSUN, she already had served as a U.S. Marine from 2009-13 and in the Reserves until 2016. She worked full time as an emergency responder while also taking a full course load.
“As soon as class was over, I was straight back to work in an ambulance,” said Menjivar ’15 (Sociology).
Menjivar did homework during lulls in her shifts as an emergency medical technician. Between calls, she drove the ambulance to Starbucks to use the Wi-Fi. She typed papers while sitting on a gurney and pored over her notes while waiting with a patient who needed a hospital bed.
She never considered quitting school. The Marine Corps had instilled in her determination and perseverance. She doesn’t give up when encountering an obstacle.
“If I want to be successful down the road, I have to go through these troubling times,” she said of her mindset, as a student and even today. “But it’s only temporary.”
In honor of Veterans Day, we asked Menjivar, 35, to reflect on the holiday, her experience as a Matador student veteran and what it means to be a veteran today. Here are highlights of the conversation with CSUN Newsroom.
Q: What does Veterans Day mean to you?
Sen. Menjivar: The meaning of Veterans Day has changed a bit for me. Vets Day is one day after the Marine Corps’ birthday. When I was younger, it was a sense of pride of being part of something so big — the Marine Corps, the armed services — and it meant a lot. It was more about me as a veteran — I loved that I joined this. Now, for me, it’s more about wanting to recognize other veterans. It’s more about the Vietnam veterans, the Korean War veterans and the very small handful of World War II vets we still have. What can I do to make them feel loved, that they will never be forgotten? That their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Remember, a lot of them were drafted.
I take such pride in being in a position where I can honor my veteran family. In 2020, I was a staffer for [former Los Angeles Mayor] Eric Garcetti — everything was canceled, there were no parades. It broke my heart, so I put on a drive-through Veterans Day celebration at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima. I got the Dodgers to donate hats, we offered some food. Mayor Garcetti came in his [U.S. Navy Reserve] uniform and fist-bumped or elbow-bumped every veteran as they drove through. It filled me with pride. That’s for me what Veterans Day means — what can I do for you [veterans]? We should thank our military veterans every single day. As a Marine, anywhere I go — wherever I see a [military] hat or tattoo, it’s a sense of pride and shared experience.
Q: What was it like being a student veteran and serving in Reserves as you were working to complete your degree?
Sen. Menjivar: I joined the Marines as a Reserve, to complete my degree. The Marines had other plans for me, because they activated me! (This was during the Afghanistan war.) In hindsight, I’m thankful for that because I was eligible for extra benefits. When I was younger, I was pretty arrogant, to be honest. But when I went back to school [as a Marine], I was taking school very seriously. The military really added to that — [I had learned to] be respectful in class and respect deadlines. At first when I went back to school, I was at College of the Canyons, and I got back on track. I transferred to CSUN in 2013.
It was my first time at a four-year university. I was working full time. This is where [having] the military experience was the only way I could survive being a full-time student and working full time as an EMT, plus frequent overtime. The military taught me to adapt, and that any tough times are temporary. Boot camp taught me that. It set everything in perspective: Are you hiking 10 miles, is anyone kicking sand in your face? Anything after that is not that bad! I loved being a full-time student, I loved learning. I loved bringing my perspective as a military Matador. I was able to speak up [in class] and dismantle myths about the military — I was able to share with my classmates. Just because I’m a Marine doesn’t mean that I don’t have a heart or compassion.
It’s such a culture shift for veterans to go back to school [or into a civilian job]. I remember when I left the Marine Corps in 2016, it took me a while. Assimilation is really hard. You’re allowed to be late in the real world, in a civilian life! It goes against your core. Coming to CSUN, it took me a while to go to the Veterans Resource Center, because I was a woman and a Reserve (she was worried she wouldn’t be accepted there, she noted). Finally, I went in, and I got nothing but love there. It was toward the end of my time at CSUN, and I wished I had gone earlier. I am proud to represent my alma mater and represent veterans!
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about being a veteran?
Sen. Menjivar: In California, out of 120 state legislators, there are only eight of us [veterans]. And we’re losing two this year [due to retirements, etc.]. That’s a perspective that is so needed. I’m the only Marine Corps veteran [in the state senate or Assembly]. I would encourage veterans to get into policy and get into these roles — to be at the table.
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