MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- Most people in American society may frown upon a high school dropout, but Andrew Paseka, Platoon 1051, Company C, doesn’t seem to mind since he dropped out to take care of his family and eventually do what most Americans would be too scared to; earn the title United States Marine.
High school students in their senior year may often concentrate on graduation or what college they will be attending if they decide to continue on with their education. As for Paseka, he was fully focused on his family’s health and well-being.
Paseka dropped out at the age of 17 to take care of his father, Stanley Paskea Jr., a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, when he was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.
Unfortunately, after Paseka spent months taking care of his father at home, Stanley died in 2003. Several months later, Paseka found out that his grandparents’ health was also deteriorating.
Both of Paseka’s grandparents, Stanley Joseph Sr., a World War II veteran who served as a co-pilot on the USS Saratoga, and Margelyn Paseka, were beginning to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Paseka then changed his work schedule to a graveyard shift while he and his older brother took on the responsibility of moving in with his grandparents and taking care of them every day. Paseka was their caregiver and worked the graveyard shift for four years until 2008 when his grandfather died of congestive heart failure, and several months later his grandmother died of natural causes.
While Paseka and his older brother had been taking care of their grandparents, their mother, having bipolar disorder, had lost custody of their two younger siblings. Paseka worked hard to help his mother as much as possible to regain custody of his younger brother and sister.
“I was very close to my grandparents, their deaths had a huge impact on me,” said Paseka. “My manners, morals and views of life came from the era in which my grandparents were raised, which differs from the way most are raised now.”
These characteristics are not just something Paseka holds close to his heart, but something that others notice about him as well.
“He has never quit,” said SSgt. Lukhma McBride, senior drill instructor, Platoon 1051, Co. C. “He came here with a mission and it shows through his determination.”
Though Paseka has a strong character about him, his family soon went their separate ways. After the deaths and seeing tragedy consistently happen to his family, Paseka decided his life needed change.
“After seeing my loved ones pass away and how bad things were, I decided to accomplish something worth doing in life,” said Paseka.
Although his mother held certain resentment toward his decision and kicked him out of the house, Paseka chose to follow in his father’s footsteps. Within the following months he moved back and forth between his older brother’s place and mother’s house, and he began talking with a Marine Corps recruiter and grasp what the Marines are all about.
“I had no idea what being a Marine truly was until I started getting involved in the Delayed Entry Program, and that made me want it more,” said Paseka. “After two months of adult school I received my diploma and was able to sign up.”
Paseka worked hard to earn his diploma and continues to give his all to those around him and to the Marine Corps.
“He possesses a great amount of determination,” said McBride. “He has this driving force inside him that pushes him to consistently try harder each day. One thing for sure is that he will never quit. He will continue to grow and will be a valuable contribution to any unit he is assigned to in the fleet. He has a solid foundation now, he is a good Marine. I am confident that he'll only get better, grow stronger and build on that foundation in the fleet.”
Upon adopting a new sense of pride before he became a Marine, he found that his younger sister was also proud of the choice he made and they started to build a stronger bond.
“Her pride in me gave me more confidence in following my dad and grandpa’s footsteps,” Paseka said.
Paseka hopes that his decision to become a Marine and lead by example doesn’t just inspire his little sister, but also motivates all of those around him.
“The decisions you make are what make you who you are,” said Paseka. “So if you apply yourself and stay dedicated to a higher standard, you will make yourself a better person.”