With the ceremonial repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Todd Belok has finally seen the change he’s been waiting for.

By a vote of 65 to 31, the Senate voted Dec. 18 to end the program that has prevented thousands of Americans from serving in the military. The Clinton-era policy’s total repeal now hangs on the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But the wait isn’t stopping Belok – who was dismissed from GW’s Navy ROTC program in 2008 after two midshipmen saw him kissing another male at a fraternity party – from thinking about his military future.

Though rejoining the NROTC is not an option for Belok, he said he is open to joining the military in the future. A months-long study conducted by the Pentagon shortly before the repeal that analyzed how the new law would be implemented stated that service members previously discharged on the basis of homosexuality could “be considered for re-entry, assuming they qualify in all other respects.” Since its inception, 13,000 service members have been discharged over the policy. “It’s an option that I’m strongly keeping in consideration as I’m finishing up my last year-and-a-half of college,” he said.

After graduation, Belok could enroll in the Navy’s Officer Candidate School, a 12-week training program that would prepare him to become a commissioned officer.

After his dismissal, Belok became an active proponent of repeal, joining the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, partnering with nationally recognized advocates and participating in – and inspiring – protests.

“I think it definitely was worth it,” Belok said. “It was an honor to be part of the movement to support the military and to make this change.”

While Belok said the experience of advocating for repeal was laborious, he said he learned a lot from the process.

“I met a lot of really amazing people and role models throughout the repeal movement,” he said.