Building a Legacy of Service
When Aubrey Melton was searching for a college, she wanted a place where she could branch out without losing the close-knit environment that had always been important to her. She found it at Ole Miss.
“I thought, ‘I’m going to love it here,’” Melton said. “This is where I’m going.”
The welcoming atmosphere she experienced during her orientation sealed the deal. She enrolled with plans to study psychology and build a career around helping others.
Melton’s goal is to specialize in post-traumatic stress disorder among military veterans and service members - a passion that began long before her college search.
She was just 18 months old when her father, Illinois National Guard Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton, was killed in action while serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Growing up, she found a support system through organizations that brought together military children and families navigating similar experiences.
Those experiences taught her an important truth.
“War doesn’t only affect soldiers,” she said. “It affects the entire family.”
Today, that perspective drives her career ambitions. She hopes to devote her career to helping veterans, service members and their families as they navigate trauma and healing.
At Ole Miss, Melton sees the opportunity to prepare for that future both inside and outside the classroom. Having already connected with Veteran and Military Services, she looks forward to continuing those relationships while preparing for a career dedicated to supporting military families.
Even before arriving at Ole Miss, Melton was finding ways to support and honor the military community. In high school, she won first place in the Illinois American Legion Auxiliary essay competition after writing about the sacrifices made by America’s service members. This recognition led to an opportunity for her to read her essay before veterans and members of the American Legion.
As she begins this next chapter, Melton is looking forward to experiences familiar to many first-year students—living independently, meeting new people and discovering who she is beyond Aviston.
She came to Ole Miss searching for a campus culture where she could grow. She hopes to leave prepared to offer that same sense of support and belonging to others.
“I want people to know they aren’t alone in their experiences,” she said. “If I can help someone through those experiences, I’ll feel like I’ve done my part.”