---

---

When Eddy M. stepped onto the UNT campus after serving in the U.S. Navy, he brought discipline and a strong work ethic. A rocky start in physics nearly discouraged him, until a simple act of support from a fellow veteran reminded him that learning is a journey, not a race. Three years later, Eddy completed a five‑year degree plan in record time. He built connections, discovered community and reaffirmed that growth happens when you keep showing up, keep learning, and keep moving forward. 

 

---

Read the transcript for Inside Swoop's latest podcast.

Setting the Pace

Byron: So I understand Eddy, you finished a 5-year program in just three years with a 3.5 GPA. Uh, what sparked that pace and focus?

Eddy: I think it was just that one day I figured like, I could do it, you know? And then I'm like, then just keep doing it and see how fast and far we can.

Byron: Yeah, just ride it till the wheels fall off. Now, what personal systems or habits made that possible, like a time blocking, steady routines, that sort of thing?

Eddy: That's, that's the thing. I tried to have a study habit or like just a personal system, but each semester was way different, you know. One semester, I'd have 3 hours in between, an hour in between, or just one day be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. back to back to back. So it's just all about adapting.

Byron: Oh wow! Okay! Adapting or having a flexible uh, having something uh, flexible that you can use in just about any situation. Yes, just so, So how do you do that? Describe that.

Eddy: Well like, when I'm making my schedule, you don't really have options once, you know, you want to see only has. So I'm just I look at it and I'm like, That's not pretty, but it has to be done and I'm just like, it just has to be done.

The Breakthrough Moment

Byron: Hammer it out. Gotcha. All right, let's talk about your academic journey. Uh, which class or project tested you the most and what did you take from it?

Eddy: I think it was about the time I met you as well, my first semester. Uh, I was uh, my first semester here straight out the navy. Um, I'm taking physics, I believe. And I just, for the life of me could not make it click. I was going to orientation. I was doing study but, like study group, study buddies, I would come here and I just, I just couldn't. I just really couldn't. I think I talked to you. I wanted to rejoin. I was like, school isn't for me, I'm going to go back. And the veteran here actually gave me a physics book. He's like, hey like, Just read it. And I came, I remember my grade was a 32. And I passed the class with a 98.  That was physics one for sure.

Byron: All right, where, was there a turning point when you realized I can actually finish early and finish strong?

Eddy: I never knew I was going to finish early, but finish strong. Same physics one. Like after,  I turned a failing grade into an A. An A, and I'm like, you know, like summer's coming up. I need to keep my mind busy. I just loaded up my schedule and I'm like, okay, cool. Fall started, let's load up the schedule. And just load up the each semester and like I'm like, oh, it's, I'm done.

A Naval Mindset

Byron: How did your Navy experience shape your approach to school and problem solving?

Eddy: I think that adaptability, you know, and the ability to just be like, I have to do it, like what I can't say no. Like if that job permits, presents to you and you're like you're the only one and you're there like you have to do it. You can't just be like, oh, someone else is going to take care of it or like Yeah, yeah. You gotta have accountability. No one's coming. As long as you know that, like you're good.

Byron: Which skills from service uh, translated best to the classroom?

Eddy: I definitely think discipline, it's a big one, like even, as I said in physics and I wanted to quit, I'm like, I'm still show up to class. Like I'm still trying to study even if I know like there's no chance. You know, it's like just having that persistence.

Byron: What advice would you give to other veterans considering college or returning to school? This one's important.

Eddy: It's doable. It's 100% doable if you keep your mind straight. It's like you can just be coming out of the military and just be like, life's good, life's chill, like it's easier and it's harder at the same time. You know, there's no one there to hold your hand or like push you in that sense. So, it's all on you at the end of the day. And I think, the biggest advice would be is like, you can do it. You can 100% do it.

Finding Balance

Byron: Fitness and well-being. You're a fitness enthusiast. How did training support your, your focus and stress management?

Eddy: I think, the only way I was able to do this is because of the stress management in the gym. You know, like, that's my coping mechanism. So going to the gym and just. Yeah, and you got me into boxing. Yeah. Yeah, so that helped a lot. Yeah. Definitely helpful. It does help. You know it's like, and you get tired and you're like, it was good. Let me shower and then you're just right back on it.

Byron: It seems like, at least for me, you're doing stuff like that, like boxing or something like that. In the classroom, no one's trying to knock your head off. So it's like it kind of turns the volume down on that stress. You see what I'm saying?

Eddy: Like, or you’re stressed and you couldn't get something in class, you're going to go hit the bag real quick, you know, train, spar a little and be like, let's give it a go again.

Byron: Put your mind somewhere else and then come back, yeah. That's the sort of resiliency we're talking about. What does recovery look like for you when you're balancing academics and fitness?

Eddy: Recovery like an off day. It's not that, I don't think that's a thing. Um, maybe an off day from the gym.

Byron: I remember, man. You jumped rope until your knees exploded.

Eddy: Yeah, but if I was going to have like 20, 30 minutes of like, you know what, I'm not going to do nothing for an hour. It's like, I would uh, I guess go outside. You know, either kick a soccer ball, which is still working out, or I guess play FIFA.

Byron: You seem like this type of guy that has, um, has a lot of energy, you know what I mean? You're, you're a person of great energy. And if that energy is unfocused, it becomes destructive.

Eddy: Oh, yes, yes. I'm glad you said that cause I said I needed to keep my mind busy. So, if I just have time to do nothing, I do a lot of nothing, and it just keeps going and going and going.

Byron: Yeah, I know what you're saying. Yeah, like um, like such a creep in.

Eddy: Yes. Yes.

Staying Grounded

Byron: Yeah, if you don't if you don't uh get back on that track. All right, any favorite routine, tool, or practice for uh keeping you grounded?

Eddy: The gym, I would say. Just, even if it's just 20, 30-minute cardio, it's like just something. It's your reset, you know?

Byron: Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Eddy: It's my favorite tool for sure.

Byron: Nice. I'm really glad you, I'm really glad you like hooked onto that, you know, cause that's what I was trying to tell you guys, you know, that like, you can use this as a tool to succeed. And you know what I'm saying, it's part of, it's part of your psychological benefit.

Eddy: It's not even to see like how much you can lift or like, to see how big you get, it's just get it out.

Byron: Yes. You know, just, managing the hormones and the stress.

Eddy: Yeah, get the dopamine out, you know?

UNT Resources that Mattered

Byron: Who here made a meaningful difference? Faculty, staff, classmates, or mentors?

Eddy: I definitely think you helped a lot, especially when I had that uh, family issue, my first, second semester. And yeah, you helped me out a lot. You like kept inviting me to here or to the gym and it was awesome. So I really appreciate that.

Byron: Absolutely. Yeah, my pleasure. Yeah. My pleasure. Um, let's see. What campus resources mattered most to you? Probably the gym.

Eddy: Yeah, it's not free during the summer so that that was nice to know.

Byron: Yeah, that's a downer, right?

Eddy: Uh, but I definitely think my early on, the Veteran Service, definitely helped, cause that's where I, you know, networked in a way, and like reached out and someone gave me a book. I met you. I get, like, it was, you know, a really good early on. For any veteran, they should definitely come here.

Byron: Yeah, man.

Eddy: But I think, looking forward, like cause I had to leave main campus really fast cause I finished everything really fast. So in Discovery Park, I think it was like building a group.

Byron: Building like uh, building that kind of support network?

Eddy: Yes, yes.

Byron: So that like, cause I noticed over there, um, people are a little more team oriented. It seems like to me anyway, that I've seen from the outside, where people would like band together to work on this project or band together to figure out this class.

Eddy: For sure. It's like, I think even once you make it past Calculus 2, whoever’s in that class you're going to see for the rest of your… you know, so you're like, okay, like you can start eyeing out, be like I know how you work. I know how you don't work. And then when the group projects start to be…

Byron: You know who to pick.

Eddy: Yea, I know how to pick. I built this brick by brick (laughter).

If You Want to Go Far, Go Together

Byron: What did you learn most about yourself in these three years?

Eddy: What I learned about myself I think it’s…I’m kind of underwhelmed really.

Byron: Underwhelmed? How so?

Eddy: I just…you brought it up, “Oh you finished in three years.” Oh yea sure.

Byron: Oh, I see what you’re saying. It’s kind of like that volume turned down thing.

Eddy: Yea, you know like I don’t think it’s nothing crazy. It’s just something that had to be done.

Byron: You did good. You did good. When things felt overwhelming, what helped you push through? Did you? (laughter)

Eddy: Given different answers probably like friends and family. You know if it wasn’t for my brother, I’d say this, I wouldn’t be eating. Like since my schedule I still have a full-time job, you know I have full-time school and then the gym and then my side business. It’s like I didn’t have enough time to do anything but sleep. So my brother would be like, “Oh, here’s a plate.” I would be like, you know, Thank you.

Byron: That is a bro, dude. A plate of food at the right time. You haven’t eaten in hours. You’ve been studying.

Eddy: I’ll take this a la carte because I’m going to change your oil tomorrow. Dude, thank you. You know…

Byron: That’s awesome. Shout out to your brother.

Eddy: Reaching out to my brother helped a lot.

Byron: No one does it alone. No one does it alone. We think we do it alone. We think that this is our degree alone, but no. Generally there are more people than you even know pushing you, holding you up. You know what I’m saying. You know what I’m saying. Teaching you things. I learned that from my father actually, because he was saying, cause he did it on his own, and he said to remember that your not by yourself. It feels like you’re alone, but you’re not by yourself. Find the right community. There’s always someone who is already supporting you. So shout out to your brother.

Eddy: What’s that saying? You want to go fast go alone. You want to go far, go together. I kind of put both of those together. I’m running, but I’m holding you man.

Looking Ahead

Byron: Looking ahead what’s next career wise, certification, service or further study?

Eddy: Oh man, I just feel like there’s a lot of doors open for me right now. I was thinking about going for a master’s in aerospace. I do like that I do have an aerospace job that I can just go and work for. And as I said I started this company that has a bright future.

Byron: Yeah. Awesome.

Eddy: It’s like, maybe I can do a combo or three again as I’m doing now. But we’ll see.

Byron: We’ll see. We’ll see. How do you help to make an impact over the next five years?

Eddy: I hope I can at least motivate one other. It doesn’t have to be a veteran or student maybe. Just a nontraditional student who was like, it’s been five years since you went to high school…you get thrown into the pack and you’re like

Byron: What do I do?

Eddy: “Oh you should’ve covered these first four chapters in school, let’s move on,” and you’re like…

Byron: I’m ready.

Eddy: I just hope I can, like, show them that if you just try. Like, you know, you just try. You can do it.

Byron: Effort. What are you most excited and curious about in this next chapter in your life?

Eddy: Excited to graduate for sure. I’m also curious to see what else I can do. You know, even in my Navy experience, I went from E1 to E5 in two years. So it’s like, then I was like, okay, like, I have to keep going, but let me try and do something first. And now that this, I’m like, okay, no, now what can I shift.

Lessons Worth Learning

Byron: Where do you take all that experience. What do you want future students, especially veterans, to know about what’s possible here?

Eddy:  It’s definitely possible to graduate. Like I know a lot of veterans transfer when they just give up, even not give up the skill like read it out. I met a bunch of veterans here that I haven’t seen, you know, and a bunch of veterans that came out of the Navy with me and they kind of just...

Byron: Fell by the wayside?

Eddy: Yea. And I’m like, you just got…I’ll say this. I failed Calculus 1 three times. I took it three or four times, and I just kept trying. You know, and eventually, the last one I passed I passed with a 98, 99. And Calculus 2 was a 99. Calculus 3 was a 90. And then you know what? Let me get that math minor.

Byron: Yeah, you got a math minor on the way.

Eddy: Because I’m like…

Byron: You can’t give up.   

Eddy: Yeah. Don't give up, just try it. You know, it's really depressing, I guess, when you fail a class and everyone's passing you, but you're on your own pace. Yeah. You know, you don't compete with anybody, you don't project yourself on anybody, it's just you. And that's what's important.

Byron: Awesome. If you could give your day one self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Eddy: Chill out. (laughter)

 

---

About Student Veteran Services

UNT's Student Veteran Services is part of the Division of Student Affairs' Eagle Engagement Center. Student Veteran Services is proud to support more than 3,000 student veterans and their dependents.  The team works with on-campus and off-campus partners to bring the best services to our student veterans, including community‑building and tailored resources that promote academic and personal success.