Miki Calderon, M24

My husband has completed his military obligation, but he served for seven years as an active-duty Army officer. During that time, I was a military spouse, and that was my first experience of military life—I’d had no connection to it beforehand.

Funnily enough, when my husband retired, I chose to join. I’m currently an Air Force officer, enrolled in the Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program. The Air Force is funding my education through medical school, and my plan is to serve after I finish my training.

As a spouse, I saw the camaraderie among service members and their families. I was welcomed into this incredibly close-knit community, unlike any I had experienced before. I met so many amazing service members and other spouses. It’s a big part of what inspired me to join.

To me, Veterans Day is a tribute. My tribute, I hope, will be to serve as a physician. I don’t know yet what my specialty will be, but there are many research studies on veterans and their health outcomes throughout the course of their lives. I want to pay tribute to service members by taking care of them however I can. I’m hoping that the education that I’m getting at Tufts and that I’ll be receiving in the future through my residency training will allow me to change the course of some of their lives.