Bianca Clayborne knows what it means to struggle. As a war veteran and a single mother raising two kids, working two jobs and going to school, she has had to overcome a lot of challenges. But one of the biggest challenges she has faced has been her battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That is why she is working to help other veterans succeed in school and in life.

WA: What inspired you to pursue your degree?
B. Clayborne: I chose to pursue my degree in Business Administration because I want to start my own Veterans Resource Center. My experiences with PTSD, depression and the struggles I had finding a job after leaving the military have pressed on my heart to give back and encourage other women, veterans and soldiers to believe that you can survive and succeed in school.

WA: What are some of the challenges that veterans face in school?
B. Clayborne: One of the challenges is getting their G.I. Bill benefits processed in a timely manner. A lot of student veterans can’t find gainful employment, so they rely on the G.I. Bill to pay their tuition and their bills until they can find work. Many return to the service before completing school, just so that they can get a job with a full-time paycheck and three square meals a day. Veterans also struggle to stay focused in the classroom after coming back from war and facing depression or PTSD.

WA: What led you to start helping veterans?
B. Clayborne: In 2008, after struggling to find employment and nearly becoming homeless, I began volunteering to help veterans with resumes, job placement, housing and educational benefits, all while going to school full-time and working part-time. I wanted to be a source of encouragement and support for my fellow student comrades on campus.

WA: How are you continuing that work?
B. Clayborne: This year I started the Veterans United Advocacy Club at Truman College in Chicago, where I go to school. We help veterans with their G.I. Bill benefits and make sure their files are processed in a timely manner so they can get paid. We keep them informed of other entitlements they may not know about. And we network with other veteran organizations that offer good services. I have devoted this last year of my life to helping my fellow veterans and their families get the support and services they need.

WA: What are your goals for the future?
B. Clayborne: I want to start my own Veterans Resource Center that will focus on finding jobs for veterans returning home from service and reintegrating the soldier to their family. I want my education to put me in a position to better provide for my children and to open doors to new opportunities.

WA: What keeps you motivated, even when things get tough?
B. Clayborne: My two kids are my driving force, and God gives me the strength to keep going. When things get tough, I think of my kids and the goals we talk about accomplishing – getting a home with a backyard, so they can have a dog.