Shout out to Javier Morelos, a student veteran who is projected to graduate at the end of this semester.

When Javier joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2017, he was searching for adventure and was driven by a desire to defend his country. However, the 25-year-old Pomona resident says the greatest benefit of his four years of service was the camaraderie he developed with his fellow Marines. "The most rewarding aspect of my service was the brotherhood," he said. "At the same time, being a part of the history of the Marines made me very proud."

After being stationed in San Diego and deployed to Kuwait, Javier left the military and turned his sights to a college education. In fall 2022, he enrolled at Citrus College and quickly discovered the Veterans Success Center (VSC). "I enrolled in a counseling class for veterans and the VSC was mentioned a lot, so I decided to check it out," he said. "The most memorable thing about my military service was the fact that we all looked out for each other, which is something I really like about the VSC."

As an aspiring aerospace engineer, Javier has also found Citrus College's STEM Center to be helpful. In fact, he encourages other students to follow his lead.

"Take advantage of all the opportunities available at Citrus College," he said. "Participate in the programs, use resources like the STEM Center and get involved with the clubs. Don't just come to school and go home."

After he graduates from Citrus College, Javier hopes to transfer to a four-year university. "I plan on applying to Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine and Cal State Long Beach," he said.

Thank you for your service, Corporal Morelos! We look forward to watching your future unfold.