Each year, as our nation pauses to remember September 11, 2001, I am reminded that the legacy of that day is not only found in our collective grief, but also in the choices people made in response to it. For me, 9/11 became deeply connected to a calling—to serve the country that had given me the opportunity to call it home.
Commitment to Armed Forces
As an immigrant, my decision to serve in the United States military carried a profound meaning. America was more than the place where I lived; it had become my country. Serving in uniform was an opportunity to give back, to demonstrate my gratitude through action, and to stand alongside Americans from every background who shared a commitment to something greater than themselves.
Military service taught me about sacrifice, resilience, leadership, accountability, and the strength of community. It also gave me a sense of mission and belonging. Yet one of the most important lessons of my military journey came after I left the service.
Newfound Purpose
Transitioning out of the military revealed challenges I had not fully anticipated. The structure, direction, and sense of purpose that had been part of everyday military life suddenly changed. Navigating government systems, educational benefits, higher education, and the path toward a civilian career often came with gaps in communication, unclear direction, and services that did not always connect in the ways veterans needed them to.
I realized that leaving the military did not mean the mission was over. In many ways, it helped me discover a new one.
The challenges I encountered instilled in me a purpose to serve my fellow veterans and military-connected families so that they would not have to navigate these transitions alone. Today, that purpose drives my work as Military Affairs Manager at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where I have the privilege of supporting active-duty service members, veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve, and military dependents as they pursue higher education and prepare for what comes next.
For military-connected students, enrolling in college is often about much more than earning a degree. It can represent a major transition in identity, community, career, and purpose. The systems surrounding higher education can also be difficult to navigate—from educational benefits and administrative requirements to translating military experience into academic and professional opportunities.
My passion is creating pathways that make that journey clearer and more supportive.
That means helping ensure military-connected students have access to the resources, advocacy, institutional support, and sense of belonging they need to succeed. It means working across the university to strengthen policies and programs that improve access, retention, graduation, and career readiness. Most importantly, it means recognizing the individual behind the uniform and creating an environment where every military-connected student knows that their experiences are valued and their future matters.
The 25 Commemoration
September 11 reminds us of tremendous loss, but it also reminds us of service—the first responders who ran toward danger, the service members who answered the nation’s call, the families who sacrificed alongside them, and the communities that came together afterward.
For me, the meaning of service has evolved, but it has never disappeared.
I once answered the call to serve my country in uniform. Today, I answer that call by serving those who have served and the families who have stood beside them.
As we remember the lives lost on September 11 and honor those whose lives were forever changed, I am reminded that service does not always end when the uniform comes off. Sometimes, that is where a new mission begins.
Mine is ensuring that those who serve our nation are empowered to succeed in the next chapter of their lives.
For more information about PBA’s Military Affairs click here.
Tory Renza is a military and veteran affairs professional at PBA and committed to building stronger communities and creating meaningful opportunities for veterans, servicemembers, and military-connected families. As a U.S. Navy and Air Force Reserve veteran who served from 2006 to 2013, she brings both lived experience and a deep understanding of the systems that shape the veteran and military community. Tory holds a degree in Socio-Political Psychology and is completing her master’s degree in industrial-Organizational Psychology. She currently serves on the Palm Beach County Veterans Caucus and on the coordinating committee of a veteran and military servicemember advocacy organization. Across her work, she is guided by the belief that effective leadership begins with listening, collaboration, and creating space for people and communities to thrive.
