When Aaron Dubois, 28, of Shakopee, Minn., decided to join the military, he saw it as an opportunity to better his life and help his loved ones.
"I chose the Marines because I felt like if I could complete the training, there was nothing I could not accomplish," said Dubois. "More than anything, I felt like there was a lot of strife in the world and I did not want my friends or family to be the ones who dealt with it."
Today, after four years as a Marine, Dubois is preparing for his dream job – teaching English as a second language abroad. Having served in Japan and Iraq, Dubois considers traveling and experiencing other cultures a high priority.
To make his dream a reality, Dubois is working on a master's degree in second language education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He already has a bachelor's degree in English literature from the same institution.
When the cost of his education began taking a toll on his finances, Dubois reached out to the VFW for help. While researching vfw.org, he came across information on the VFW "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship." He applied and was granted a generous scholarship.
"With this scholarship, I can focus more on my studies and participate in more professional development," said Dubois, who is currently working as a student teacher at Richfield High School. "This helps not only me, but also my future students."
There's no doubt that Dubois' education, and the assistance from the VFW, will take him far in life.
"I am weighing my options right now, but at the moment I am thinking of teaching in Morocco," said Dubois.
Dubois hopes all veterans will take advantage of the educational benefits they've earned.
"Even if you think college is not for you, just make a phone call and explore your options," said Dubois. "If you feel it's too difficult of a process, speak to a counselor or another veteran who's in school. Talk to as many people as possible so you can weigh all your options."
The VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" was created to provide service members and veterans with the financial assistance needed to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. Awarded twice a year, scholarships help cover the cost of tuition and fees. For more information on the Help A Hero scholarship, visit: www.vfw.org/Scholarship.