Mohalla, a student in the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac, explained that the opportunity to attend college was one of the reasons he joined the military, in addition to wanting to serve his country and to see a different field of medicine. He said he hopes that students keep in mind that Veterans Day can mean different things to different people.

“Families may see it as a day to be proud of their service members. Soldiers may reflect on their experiences for better or worse,” said Mohalla. “Some may use this as a day of remembrance for those they lost while in the military. If people find the occasion hard to relate to or outdated, just remember that for some, this is as sacred of an occasion as one can become.”

While being a college student has its own obstacles, Mohalla said he feels prepared to tackle anything that comes his way.

“I use my time in the military, especially while deployed to a very hostile area, as a barometer for how manageable my current life has become. There is a lot to study, but at least I am not being shot at or mortared,” said Mohalla.