Zeké Lue: One Veteran’s Story

Reflecting back on last summer, Western Washington University junior Zeké Lue remembers it as one of the best — albeit strangest — experiences of his post-military life.

For the first time in years, Lue, 26 and a Navy veteran, didn’t have any work to do after graduating from Olympic College in Poulsbo with his associate’s degree and waiting to start classes at Western.

Lue said his experience working as a cook on a Navy submarine had instilled in him a work ethic that couldn’t simply be put aside.

Lue was born in the Ivory Coast, and immigrated to Frederick, Maryland in 1998. After graduating from high school, Lue attended Frostburg State University before deciding to leave to pursue a professional dancing career in New York City. After exploring that path and deciding it wasn’t for him, he decided to join the military at the age of 21.

After just a short amount of time, Lue discovered that being out at sea for months at a time could be grueling. While deployed, Lue’s schedule on the USS Kentucky consisted of working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week without any days off, until he returned to port. This was, of course, on top of his other responsibilities that included daily study for required navy tests and being the leader of the boat's fitness program.

“If you’re not working, you’re studying,” Lue said. “You have to prove yourself to your chief and to the rest of the boat.”

So facing a summer with no real obligations, Lue said he turned to side projects to keep himself occupied while waiting to make his transition to Western to major in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

“I didn’t work, I wasn’t in school, I didn’t have anything. It was strange.” Lue said. “I started doing start-up projects like writing recipe and workout books - something to keep my mind going. I just couldn’t be idle.”

Like many other veteran students on campus, having an over-the-top work ethic is something that makes Lue stand out. While sitting at his workstation in Western’s Veteran’s Affairs office where he works, a position he received after two weeks of relentless inquiry, he’ll list off the five other classes he’s taking and the acapella group on campus he’s a part of.

“When I was transferring to Western, everyone told me that community college was easier and coming to a four-year college would stress me out,” Lue said. “But I came here and realized that this was something I was already used to. Because of the military I was already used to having to work hard.”

For many who have served, Lue said making the transition from military life to civilian life can be difficult. Mix in being a student and those challenges become even greater. Lue said it’s easy for veterans to feel isolated.

One of the reasons Lue said he chose Western as opposed to other universities was its commitment to helping veterans succeed.

“We like to think that we’re just the same as all of the other students on campus, but we aren’t. We have a vast amount of experiences behind us as veteran students,” Lue said. “Many of us are older and also have disabilities that hinder our ability to study.”

Through his position in the Veteran’s Affairs Office, Lue is able to help veterans and dependents of veterans apply their G.I. bill benefits. The office also exists to link veterans and dependents to tutors if they’re struggling in school.

Lue said the position has also provided him with an opportunity to meet and connect with many of the other veterans on campus. Knowing that he’s able to help other veterans is one of his primary motivations.

“Be it tutoring, books, or anything to help them,” Lue said, “we are here 100 percent.”

After his eventual graduation, Lue plans to continue on to pursue a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Even though that’s still some time away, he knows that Western will support him every step of the way.

“It’s important to know that Western really wants to help its students, especially veterans,” Lue said. “The staff here want to do everything possible to see you graduate.”

 

Photo by Kyra Betteridge