David AndersonFile Photo For Susan, retiring from the Navy felt like falling off a cliff. At least that’s how she remembers it. For years, she had climbed, step by step, advancing in her career, making sure the boxes were checked. And then one day, she was done. No big send off just done.
“I think that’s one of the hardest things for Veterans, (thinking) ‘I don’t have a sense of purpose now,’” Susan says. “I had such a big role in defending the country, and now I’m, like, picking up dog poop in my yard.”
It took time to adjust. She faced challenges depression , PTSD , and the sudden loss of hearing in her left ear. But Susan found comfort and purpose in an unlikely place: the stand-up comedy stage.
“I feel so at home up there,” she says. “And just making people laugh is something that makes me feel good. It really boosts me up.”
Susan found the opportunity to chase down her comedy dream through the Armed Services Arts Partnership, which uses the arts improv, acting, stand-up comedy, and more to help integrate veterans, service members, and military families into their communities. Her group met once a week to work on their material and stand-up techniques. After six weeks, Susan made her debut.
“Stand-up is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says. “I did my debut at the DC Improv, and it was awesome. It was a big bucket list item for me. And I want to keep doing it.” […]
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