When now fourth-year civil engineering major Michael Bauby approached high school graduation in 2016, his next steps were uncertain. Instead of college, Bauby found himself excited by a different idea: joining the military to serve and learn practical skills in a new environment.
“I just knew I wasn’t quite ready for college,” said Bauby. “I applied, got accepted, and even got scholarship money at a few places, but none of them really interested me. So, I decided to join the military. And I knew I wanted to be near the ocean, so that meant either the Navy or Coast Guard.”
Time in the Coast Guard
Ultimately, Bauby picked the Coast Guard with the hope that his time on land and at sea would be balanced. During his tenure, Bauby gained skills in carpentry, welding, engineering, and other general maintenance aboard ships.
For about three months at a time, Bauby would join the crew of a ship somewhere along the coast of the United States. While on the ship, a day in Bauby’s life consisted of watching engines, doing routine checks, and working on a running list of maintenance projects to keep the ship in top shape.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, work lessened considerably for Bauby, and he began to think about his next steps. Now with experience under his belt and a girlfriend at home, the idea of college and a stable place on land sounded much more enticing than it had as a high school senior.
Back to School
After finishing his service, Bauby quickly enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2021. There, he found his time in the military had indeed helped him feel much more prepared for the reality of college classes.
“The discipline side of my time in the military – being able to focus and get an assignment out when you need to – has been really important,” said Bauby. “And I didn’t have that coming out of high school. I definitely wouldn’t have been as successful in college without my military experience.”
When his girlfriend got a job in Atlanta, he decided to transfer to Georgia Tech to go with her. To transfer, Bauby applied through the Veterans Transfer Pathway Program, which is a special entry path reserved for veterans wishing to earn a degree from Tech.
Involvement on Campus
One of Bauby’s favorite projects at Tech has been his work with the American Society of Civil Engineers for the Sustainable Solutions Competition over the summer. For the competition, Bauby and his teammates created plans to redesign an abandoned industrial area.
Their design ultimately won the regional and national competitions, receiving high praise for balancing creativity, sustainability, and functionality.
Beyond that, Bauby keeps his sea legs alive through his participation on Tech’s Concrete Canoe Team, which Bauby can say is “exactly what it sounds like.”
Teams from universities across the nation spend months strategically building a canoe out of concrete, and then race the final products. This year will mark Bauby’s first year as team captain.
“I just picked up a truckload of Styrofoam for the canoe mold,” said Bauby. “We’ll mix up several batches of concrete to test, because ultimately, the concrete has to be about as light as water to float. Then the canoe cures from December to March, when we compete.”
Advice & Life Beyond Campus
Bauby is also the president of the Student Veterans Association, where he’s continued the work of building community among veteran students through tailgates and other activities. His advice for veterans entering the higher education realm is to listen for opportunities to get involved on campus.
“A lot of veterans feel like they’re not getting some parts of the ‘student experience’ as a non-traditional student, and I think it’s important to plug in and try out the things that sound interesting,” said Bauby. “You’ll hear about things in your classes – professional organizations, cool competitions, things like that. It might seem a little awkward if you’re older than your classmates but getting involved can be fun and incredibly rewarding.”
In his free time, Bauby enjoys staying active and sports. He mostly roots for teams from his childhood in California, but he maintains a special place for both the University of Alabama and Georgia Tech as his college teams.
But don’t worry, in a potential matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Yellow Jackets, he’s rooting for Tech.
To learn more about Tech’s support services for veterans, visit the Veterans Resource Center website, and learn more about the Office of Undergraduate Admission’s Veterans Transfer Pathway Program