My father, John Gus Peters III, joined the Marine Corps in 1998 to get his life back on track. At the time, he had attempted college but was forced to leave because he couldn’t afford it. He was also struggling with personal and family challenges. He served as a basic administrative Marine with no special training, and his service ended after one year and one month due to a hip injury that led to a forced medical retirement. After serving, my dad returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University while stationed at MCRD Support Battalion. He went on to work as a drug counselor at a rehab center for many years but eventually left due to poor treatment. Today, he runs his own construction business. His passion lies in remodeling homes, building decks, and fixing anything and everything. Watching him turn that passion into a successful business has inspired me to pursue my own dreams. I value his hard work, resilience, and entrepreneurship. I have so much appreciation for my dad, especially for how he supported me through my cancer diagnosis and treatment last spring. He put his entire life on pause to take care of me, even though he’s self-employed and doesn’t receive paid time off. He and my mom never left my side, even if it meant sleeping on a cot or in an uncomfortable hospital chair. One of the biggest things that helped me emotionally was how he adjusted his behavior, choosing patience and support instead of reacting with frustration when dealing with doctors and nurses. That change meant everything to me. My father has taught me so much through his actions. From him, I’ve learned compassion, sacrifice, and the ability to grow into a better version of yourself. He showed me that work isn’t everything, sometimes the most important thing you can do is be there for the people you love. Together, my dad and I plan to open a rehab facility after I finish college. As a recovered alcoholic, he understands the importance of healing and the value of a strong support system. He will handle the construction and maintenance of the facility, while I will manage the business operations. I’m currently working on my degree in Business Administration, which will help me learn how to successfully run and grow our future business. Since rehab centers often rely on government funding, one of my main responsibilities will be securing long-term financial support. Applying for college scholarships now is a great opportunity learning how to navigate the application processes. I am also learning skills that will be critical to the success of our rehab center. My father’s journey, starting as a struggling young adult, becoming a Marine, working as a counselor, and eventually becoming a business owner, all while being a devoted father, has deeply influenced the path I’m on. His service, sacrifices, and strength continue to inspire my goals and shape the person I’m becoming.

My father has taught me the importance of change. He was in the Marine Corps when he was younger and going through a rough patch. He excelled during his time serving; he was young and extremely hardworking. He had a rough childhood, so the sternness of his leaders did not discourage him. However, his time in the Marines was cut short when he broke his hip and had to take a medical leave. Although he seemed to be thriving on the outside, he wasn’t on the inside. My father struggled with alcoholism for many years, and the Marine Corps did not help this disease. He had been dating my mother since high school, so she went through all the awful phases of alcoholism with him. They faced many rough patches during this time. When I was around five, my father had his last drink while driving a boat on a lake near our hometown. He blacked out and woke up in jail. Not realizing that my family and I weren’t with him on the boat, he woke up believing he had killed us. He screamed in terror until the guards calmed him down, letting him know that we were safe. My father had many realizations about quitting drinking, but this was the one that changed him. He had always believed in God, but at that moment, his faith struck him like never before. That was 17 years ago, and he has not had a drink since, besides a sip of a margarita he mistook for a slushy. But we don’t count that! Growing up, my sister and I had to deal with many side effects of his past alcoholism, but it was still much better than him drinking. Over the past 17 years, my father’s faith has grown tremendously. He is an entirely new man because of it. He has become my role model, having completely turned his life around. He attends weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, helping both himself and others with this disease. My father's journey has influenced both him and me to strive to open a rehab center in the near future. Last year, I was in a rough place after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Type B-Cell and going through chemotherapy. My father was by my side every step of the way. He dropped everything to be the best caregiver I could have asked for, constantly reminding me that God was right there with me. I am forever grateful to him for this. I know deep down that I wouldn’t have him here today, or he wouldn’t be the amazing father he is, without his recovery from alcoholism. Because of this, I make sure to live my life without judging others. I know that everyone goes through rough patches and that it’s okay not to be okay. I try my best to help others simply by being a light in this world. I am honored to apply for this scholarship in recognition of another military hero. This scholarship would help me achieve my goal of graduating debt-free. I will be responsible for paying my college tuition and all other expenses on my own, so any scholarship assistance would mean the world to me. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.