Post by Kyle Ryman

When I left the military, I had to decide how big of a “veteran” I wanted to be. Was it something I would hold close? Or something I would make part of my public identity? At first, I wanted distance. I didn’t want to be the person who led every introduction with their service. I wanted to establish myself in the civilian world on new terms. Then I got to law school. I connected with the veterans’ group. I realized how much I valued that community — the shared experience, the directness, the sense of purpose. It felt familiar in a way nothing else did. I leaned in. I started mentoring veterans who were navigating the same transition. It became a meaningful part of my life and my work, without consuming either. That’s the balance I’ve settled into: connected, but not defined; engaged, but not boxed in. You get to choose the size and shape of your veteran identity. Be you. #VeteranTransition #Purpose #Mentorship #Identity Photo: The veterans group at The University of Texas School of Law and friends at a Happy Hour my 2L year when I was the group's President—Josh Davis, Matthew Green, Caleb Martin, Robert Fuqua, August Dannenmaier, Walker Hobby, Wes Hunnell. Great time!