Student Veterans Turn Service Into Art

Ricky Rivera always had a passion for acting, performing in community theater and at his local church growing up. After a brief stint in college, he left school to join the United States Navy—but the “itch for acting” never went away, he said.

After serving more than seven years, Rivera is now an acting student at the New York Film Academy, where he performs in improv shows and even landed a commercial for Coca-Cola.

Rivera is one of roughly 3,000 veteran and military-dependent students across the New York Film Academy’s campuses in New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. All three campuses participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps eligible veterans and their dependents cover tuition costs.

The college’s Division of Veteran Services supports veterans’ transition from military service to civilian life. Students turn their lived experiences into plays and films, using storytelling to process their experiences and shape identities beyond the uniform.

Rivera said transitioning from military service to civilian life—and back into the arts—has come with challenges.

“There’s certain aspects of military life that people don’t really know except other veterans, so when we come together, when we collaborate, when we talk, that’s what helps me,” Rivera said. “What motivates me—what pushes me to be better, to heal and to not feel overstimulated or overstressed—is trying to navigate civilian life compared to structured military life.”

Christopher Moore, the college’s director of veteran services and a retired command sergeant major, said his military background shapes how he mentors student veterans as they navigate the transition to civilian life.

“[For] veterans like myself—I’m a retired veteran who served more than 30 years in the United States Army—being able to tell your story helps in the healing process,” Moore said. He noted students recently participated in a workshop where they produced two short films about their military experiences, which helped them reflect on and process their service.

Moore said many student veterans at the New York Film Academy use GI Bill benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, to fund their education. For those whose tuition isn’t fully covered, the institution also offers a 15 percent discount for eligible veterans.

“Veterans earned their GI Bill,” Moore said. “When they come to the New York Film Academy, we make sure they understand how to use those benefits—not just their monthly stipend, but how it can support their education goals.”

Identity after service: Rivera said adjusting to civilian life also meant learning how to use benefits and resources he didn’t totally understand when he first left the military.

“I personally wasn’t fully aware of all the benefits that were given to veterans once they finished serving,” Rivera said. “Having mentors like Chris, who we can go back to, ask questions and get answers from …makes the process much easier for veterans.”

Other colleges are also finding new ways to help student veterans transition to civilian life. At William & Mary, the business school’s Center for Military Transition recently piloted a weeklong pre-orientation program that helps student veterans explore their values, interests and strengths while clarifying professional skills, career goals and a sense of belonging on campus. Like NYFA, Ringling College of Art and Design supports veterans in navigating benefits and pursuing artistic programs on campus.

Beyond managing benefits and programs, Moore said the transition from military to civilian life can be complex for many veterans.

“How do we as veterans redefine identity from an environment that was so compressed?” Moore said. “[Student veterans] have been through different challenges throughout their service that have caused them to have service-connected disabilities.”

That’s where the college’s Division of Veteran Services plays a key role, Moore said.

“Every veteran transitions at different periods and [on] different timelines—there’s no one-size-fits-all for the transition period of a veteran,” he said, noting that those returning from deployment often carry “unseen scars” that can affect how they reintegrate into civilian life. Moore said the college provides counselors on-site to help support students through that process.

Supporting student veterans: Moore said misconceptions about veterans can sometimes shape how others perceive them on campus. At one point, he recalled, some students even suggested installing metal detectors because they were concerned about the college’s large veteran population.

“I want everyone to know that veterans tend to deal with their own disabilities in their head,” Moore said. “Treat veterans—especially those who are just transitioning—and give them a little space to work through things internally.”

Rivera said acting classes at the New York Film Academy have given him a way to assimilate his military experiences while growing as a performer and a person.

“There’s going to be excessive training, there’s going to be excessive rehearsals, just so we can put on the best performance,” Rivera said. “[New York Film Academy] has made me a better person, a better mentor, a better teammate, a better student than I would have [been] if I decided to come to the school before joining the military.”

He noted that that kind of understanding—and having a network of fellow veterans in his acting classes—can make a significant difference during the transition.

“Whether it’s somebody who’s been in for eight years or someone who’s been in for 30 years, the transition, for the most part, is the same,” Rivera said. “Just giving that support system, letting [student veterans] know they’re not alone, can guide us in the right direction.”

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