‘I Can Spend Time With My Daughter Before Hitting the Books’

Miguel Rodriguez, 37, served in the Navy for eight years. He had several reasons for enlisting.

"A strong desire to give back has always dwelled inside me, especially after 9/11," he said. "On top of that, the costs of attending college made me realize joining the military was the best thing for me."

Today, Rodriguez lives in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife, Puja Rana, and their daughter, Mia. He learned about the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" while searching online for aid. Another veteran shared how much the assistance helped them, and Rodriguez decided to apply.

"Words cannot express how thankful I am to be given the opportunity to pursue a higher education," he said. "Rather than taking up small jobs after a day of work so that I can save up to go back to school, this scholarship makes it so I can pick up my daughter from daycare and spend time with her before hitting the books."

As a student at DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management, Rodriguez is pursuing a master's degree in business administration. He hopes to build a career in project management, IT project management and/or product management.

"Throughout my previous work as well as my personal life, I've found myself coordinating and communicating with various people to get things done," he said. "I enjoy facing challenges and finding the most effective solution to reach a shared goal."

Rodriguez hopes other veterans push themselves to discover and pursue their own interests by taking advantage of the kind of resources that have supported him.

"Put in the time and make sure to do the research. Don't let people tell you help is not out there.

"Without the VFW's support for veterans," he continued, "I would not have had the chance to further my career - at least not without taking on a heavy financial burden. Thank you!"

Learn more about the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship."