Did you know that the number of military veterans in Congress is now lower than in the general population? Chris Morgan pointed out this striking trend, noting that back in 1995, it was the other way around. Meanwhile, our willingness to flex our military muscles seems to have grown.
Reflecting on my time at both Westfield Prep and State University, I can’t recall a single classmate who enlisted. I do remember one brave soul from the year below me at Law School who joined the JAG Corps afterward—mostly because she was a rare find. For graduates from institutions like State University, “service” often leans more towards “let’s help people” rather than “let’s join the army.”
While places like Harvard and Yale have recently brought back ROTC, there are now a plethora of non-military service opportunities available to students. Programs such as Teach for America, the Peace Corps, and City Year are often seen as the gold standard. The prevailing message is clear: service is about teaching kids, assisting the underprivileged, and working with non-profits.
My Journey to a Different Kind of Service
Honestly, I never really considered those options after college—I jumped straight into law school and became a corporate lawyer. Sure, I took on a pro bono case here and there and tried to volunteer when friends asked, but those efforts were more like side gigs compared to my main goal of climbing the corporate ladder.
I’m not alone in this. Many young folks strive for solid jobs, pay their bills, find a date, and maybe even decorate their own apartment—while volunteering on weekends. These goals are perfectly natural. Teddy Roosevelt once said that a man’s first duty is to provide for himself and his family, and only after that can he serve the community. Now with women graduating at higher rates than men, that philosophy definitely applies across the board.
The Human Drive to Make an Impact
However, once I landed at the law firm, I quickly discovered that corporate law just wasn’t my jam. It wasn’t about helping others or doing noble work—it felt like I was just a cog in a machine, and my efforts were easily replaceable. My document reviews felt like a transaction cost; if I vanished, the world wouldn’t skip a beat.
So, I decided to co-found a startup, FundraisingForCelebs.com, aiming to help celebrities raise funds for their favorite charities through sponsored clicks. It didn’t pan out, likely because I was a bit clueless at the time. I then hopped to a mobile software company, then healthcare software, and eventually became the CEO of a test prep company that got acquired by a major media outlet.
Sure, I could argue that these roles were about making a difference—supporting charities, improving hospital efficiency, helping students reach their goals, etc.—but truthfully, that wasn’t my primary motivation. What mattered was that I felt like my work had significance. I wanted to know that I was creating value and moving in a direction that excited me.
For me, the real questions were less about “Am I helping people?” and more about “Am I making an impact? Am I creating value? Do I value my coworkers? Am I growing as a person or a professional?” If I stopped showing up at work, would it matter? This led me to start OpportunityForAmerica, which directs talented grads to budding companies in cities like Detroit, Baltimore, and New Orleans, aiming to spur job growth and cultivate the next wave of entrepreneurs. Our mission? To create 100,000 new jobs in the U.S. by 2025.
While those who enlist in the military or dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate deserve all the praise and respect, military service isn’t a viable option for everyone. I’ve seen countless idealistic young people dive into large nonprofits only to feel disillusioned or burnt out. If we expand our definition of service to include helping organizations thrive, creating value, and opening new doors for ourselves and others, we can empower many young individuals to pursue more sustainable paths that also contribute to society’s progress.
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Summary
In America, the concept of service has evolved from military engagement to a broader definition that encompasses various forms of contribution, such as supporting organizations and creating value. This shift reflects changing societal values, particularly among young people who are seeking meaningful work that impacts their communities.