In our Student-Led Workshop Series, military-connected students take the lead in sharing knowledge and experiences that help their peers succeed. Recently, Robert Chromniak, a senior majoring in Urban and Regional Policy and Planning, led a session called Financial Aid, Benefits, and Budgeting Essentials. The workshop focused on practical financial skills, from managing budgets to understanding benefits, and highlighted how shared experiences can make learning more meaningful.
“One of the most memorable parts of my workshop was when Mr. Garrett Anderson helped explain a topic about pension and budgeting,” Robert said. He also recalled the discussions where participants shared their own budgeting processes and compared the pros and cons of different approaches. “We compared the pros and cons together, which helped everyone see that there isn’t one perfect way to manage money—it depends on each person’s goals and situation. Hearing others share their personal experiences was also very helpful because many of us could relate. It reminded me that others might be going through similar challenges, and learning from each other’s experiences made the workshop more supportive and meaningful.”
Leading the workshop was a learning experience in itself. “I learned how to guide a finance class and familiarize myself with a topic I am not the most familiar with,” Robert reflected. “Leading the finance and benefits class for Veterans and service-connected individuals taught me a lot about both leadership and communication. I learned that teaching others isn’t just about sharing information—it’s about listening and understanding where people are coming from. Everyone in the room had different experiences with money, benefits, and military life, so I had to adjust how I explained things to make sure it connected with everyone.”
For Robert, the impact of the workshop extended beyond the classroom. “This workshop is important because it helps veterans and service-connected students gain real-life financial skills that make their transition to civilian life easier. For me, it was meaningful to help others in my community build confidence in managing money and planning for the future.” He emphasized that programs like this reflect the mission of the Chez Veterans Center by “giving Veterans a space to learn, connect, and grow together.”