Veterans Bryce Arter and Alexander Ekker reflect on their journey from the military to the arts

Students from many backgrounds and walks of life come together at 抖阴短视频 as they pursue a conservatory education 鈥� one that encourages them to discover and create meaningful art together. Some arrive as budding filmmakers, seasoned musicians, passionate theater makers, trained dancers or dedicated actors. Some seek out specialized programs or specific faculty. Some apply for high school; others for undergraduate or graduate studies. Some discover a passion for the arts as young adults and some were born with it.

Some students, like Bryce Arter (B.F.A. Design & Production 鈥�28) and Alexander Ekker (B.F.A. Drama 鈥�26), come to 抖阴短视频 following service in the United States military. Though the journey from the military to the arts may seem unclear at first, there is a strong connection between the two. Below, Arter and Ekker generously share their perspective as veterans and artists in honor and recognition of Veterans Day. We thank them, the many other 抖阴短视频 students, alumni, faculty and staff veterans, and veterans everywhere for there service.

Seeking direction through service

After graduating from high school, Arter and Ekker entered the military a year apart: Ekker enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2018 and Arter enlisted in the Navy in 2019. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel like I was really going anywhere when I graduated,鈥� recalls Arter. 鈥淚 had been thinking about the military because I wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to do.鈥� Hesitant to take on the financial burden of college without feeling confident in a specific area of study, Arter decided to follow in his older brother鈥檚 footsteps and enlist.

For a long time I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do and I was having a difficult time figuring out where I wanted to go in life. I felt like I wasn鈥檛 worthy of what I had been given. Joining the military gave me the opportunity to humble myself and do something for other people.
Bryce Arter (B.F.A. D&P '28)

Ekker also followed a familial connection to the military. Both of his parents were Navy officers, but their careers didn鈥檛 influence his decision making. He, too, lacked direction and hoped that the military would offer structure and guidance. 鈥淔or a long time I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do and I was having a difficult time figuring out where I wanted to go in life,鈥� says Ekker. 鈥淚 felt like I wasn鈥檛 worthy of what I had been given. Joining the military gave me the opportunity to humble myself and do something for other people.鈥�

Both Arter and Ekker signed four-year contracts. Arter, who loved music and had performed in his high school marching band, hoped to join the United States Navy Band. Ultimately redirected to a job as an interior communications technician, he found that the responsibilities were extensive: 鈥淚 was tasked with managing all of the phones, alarms, lights and indicators on a ship,鈥� says Arter. 鈥淓very space on the ship tells you something鈥� there鈥檚 a phone everywhere. There鈥檚 an intercom everywhere.鈥�

Bryce Arter in is naval uniform. / Photo courtesy of Arter

Some ships in the fleet were newer than others and while many had similarities, there were key differences to consider across the available communications technology. He describes the role as being a jack of all trades and requiring a high degree of collaboration. Stationed primarily in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Arter had one deployment to the Mediterranean.

Ekker鈥檚 stint in the Marines began with a desire to be a breacher (focused on reducing explosive hazards), but he ultimately landed in a role as an anti-tank missile gunner. Trained to seek out missiles and tanks to take out enemy vehicles, he deployed twice to Okinawa, Japan.

Ekker is grateful to not have experienced the loss that can come with direct combat, but acknowledges that it can feel frustrating to be hired for a specific job without ever having the opportunity to perform it in the field. Much of his service felt like he was on standby. 鈥淚 did get what I asked for, though,鈥� he says, laughing. 鈥淚 was humbled. I couldn鈥檛 keep up in training. I thought being strong was all I needed, but it took endurance and a mindset shift. I had to grow up a lot [when I joined the Marines].鈥�

Choosing the arts

As he neared the end of his military contract, Arter considered different educational opportunities. 鈥淚f I hadn鈥檛 served in the military, I might have chosen a different school,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut I had this experience on me and I felt like a more specialized school would benefit me the most for my time and money.鈥� 抖阴短视频 checked the boxes he was looking for. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing but working on your thing every day鈥� even the DLA professors are arts-centric,鈥� he adds.

If I hadn鈥檛 served in the military, I might have chosen a different school...but I had this experience on me and I felt like a more specialized school would benefit me the most for my time and money.
Bryce Arter, Design and Production B.F.A.

Arter drew from his passion for music and his experience as an electrician to choose his next career path: sound design. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to take a gamble,鈥� explains Arter. 鈥淚 like versatility and I like jobs that can transfer into other jobs easily. Sound design is similar to what I was used to doing.鈥� Though he鈥檚 only in his first semester in the School of Design & Production, the learning is already hands-on 鈥� just like the majority of his military assignments. He鈥檚 working on main stage productions (like 鈥淭he Wild Party,鈥� along with Ekker) and completing classroom rotations to better understand and collaborate with various Design & Production programs.

Many technical skills from the Navy have found parallels in Arter鈥檚 sound design work as well. 鈥淪oldering cables, putting together electronics, working on circuit boards, wiring and cabling equipment鈥� it鈥檚 all reminiscent of things I鈥檓 familiar with,鈥� he says.

Bryce Arter working behind the scenes on the Fall 2024 School of Drama production of "The Wild Party."

Ekker鈥檚 journey to 抖阴短视频 was entirely different. As he approached the end of his contract, he considered whether to try a new career or move within the Marines to the special forces. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want a sit down job,鈥� says Ekker. 鈥淚 wanted to tell stories. What if I could be part of telling other people鈥檚 stories?鈥� His mother suggested that he try acting, a wholly unfamiliar concept to Ekker. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know what a monologue was,鈥� he admits. Inspired in part by fellow Marine, conservatory graduate and award-winning actor Adam Driver, he decided to pursue formal acting training.

Researching UNC Chapel Hill led Ekker to discover 抖阴短视频. A quick call to then-admissions counselor Bill Poole reassured him. 鈥淚 asked if I needed experience,鈥� recalls Ekker. 鈥淗e told me that my lack of experience could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how I chose to look at it.鈥� He planned to audition for both schools, but ultimately chose to only pursue 抖阴短视频. The rest, as they say, is history.

Alexander Ekker as Eddie in the Fall 2024 School of Drama production of "The Wild Party." / Photo: Luke Jamroz

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine going anywhere else,鈥� he says. At 抖阴短视频, Ekker has cultivated a deep appreciation and respect for theater along with discovering a love of acting for film. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a different world for me,鈥� he says. One which shares striking similarities with his experience in the Marines.

Just as he did when he enlisted, Ekker had to change a lot about himself and adjust his mindset to embrace the School of Drama鈥檚 conservatory training. 鈥淚 was humbled there and I am here as well,鈥� he says of his initial lack of familiarity with theater and professional acting. 鈥淚 try to bring the respect, discipline and determination from the Marines to my study and practice at 抖阴短视频,鈥� he adds. 鈥淓ven when days are difficult here, I never feel like something is out of reach. Everything can be accomplished through hard work. The Marines taught me that.鈥�

I try to bring the respect, discipline and determination from the Marines to my study and practice at 抖阴短视频.
Alexander Ekker, Drama B.F.A. '26

A continued education

Arter鈥檚 military experience offered him the chance to find himself and to build character. 鈥淚t gave me something to rely on,鈥� he says. And Ekker agrees. 鈥淚 have different life experiences now,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 want to use them to bring a different physicality to my acting. And I want to use what I have learned, and will continue to learn, to connect with people.鈥�

鈥淚n the military it鈥檚 all on you,鈥� he adds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 on you to know the different drills, to know your teammates, to know commands鈥� and to identify and assign value to things. You can鈥檛 just stop at knowing yourself. I learned how to be a leader鈥� and I鈥檓 still learning.鈥�

by Hannah Callaway

November 11, 2024