SILVER CITY, NM –The road that brought Edward Apodaca to higher education has been a winding one, but it has taken him to the cusp of graduating from Western New Mexico University. Apodaca plans to graduate in December with an interdisciplinary degree in Law Enforcement and Chemical Dependency.

Apodaca, who is of Jicarilla Apache, Diné, and European descent, grew up in various communities in northern New Mexico, eventually settling in Las Vegas, NM. "We lived on the outskirts [of Las Vegas, NM] towards the mountains," he said, "so I was able to hike all the way through the Pecos Wilderness. I had a really good tie with the earth."

Despite this connection to the land, Apodaca decided to uproot himself and join the Marine Corps, where he served along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. He would later understand that his time in the service gave him post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but he did not know this when he was younger. "Back then," he explained, "PTSD was not even considered as a diagnosis."

What he did know was that he needed structure in his life to manage his symptoms, and he found that structure by joining law enforcement, eventually working with the NM State Police. After a career in law enforcement Apodaca shifted to a bail bonding business and worked as a private investigator in Deming.

Once he retired from this line of work, the symptoms of PTSD were exacerbated until Apodaca sought help through the Veteran's Administration, and he was able to regain his health. One of his therapists suggested that returning to college might be part of his therapy.

Apodaca started going to college in the 1970s while still in the Marine Corps but did not have time to complete his coursework. Off and on over the years, he enrolled in classes at New Mexico Highlands University and New Mexico State University, but his career in law enforcement always got in the way of earning a degree.

With time finally on his hands and with the help of the NM Opportunity Scholarship and the Supplemental Aid for Native Americans Scholarship, Apodaca enrolled at WNMU.

One of the highlights of his undergraduate career was taking a course in Native American Studies and learning especially about the history of the Chiricahua people. "That was such an eye opener," he said.

Another highlight was participating in an art history tour in California with Professor Emeritus Michael Metcalf. "I have done some sculpting and painting and sketching—different forms of art throughout my life," said Apodaca. "Art is one of those expressive tools you can use to help repair the brain."

His reignited passion for the arts has prompted Apodaca to apply to the university's MA program in Interdisciplinary Studies, in which he hopes to study both sculpture and painting. If accepted, he wants to work on a project that brings together his interest in Indigenous studies and art. "I would like to create sculptures of Chiricahua people as a reminder of whose land we are on," said Apodaca.