“Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.” — Aristotle
University of Wisconsin graduate John Merritt’s favorite philosopher of the moment is Aristotle. John specifically drew inspiration from Aristotle’s first book, Nicomachean Ethics. “The whole book is on friendship — what it means to be a good human,” he said. “The support you get from friendship, from your fellow man, are fundamental parts of living a good life.”
John graduated with a degree in philosophy in December 2024. He was drawn to that field for its focus on a specific, argumentative task and how one could research, write, and draw conclusions on the fundamentals of human existence. That degree and the loss of his father led him to continue his education with the new focal point of mental health. This fall, he’ll head to Milwaukee to start a master’s program in social work with a mental health focus.
John’s dad, Captain Steven Merritt, passed away in 2021, during the COVID pandemic. John remembers him as a “cool dad, with the coolest job.” John and his brother, Will, split time between their divorced parents. “It actually worked out great. When he wasn’t traveling, we were with him. And he was there to be with us.”
Steven would send his sons photos from the cockpit or of a beautiful place he was flying to, sharing stories with them of where he had been and what he had seen. He was a fun guy that his boys admired. “He would always share a picture of him up in the air. Cool thing as a kid to see — sunset from above the clouds,” John said. “My dad was charismatic — he got along with everyone. Funny and very social.”
Steven died during the summer of John’s first year of college. John said his dad struggled with mental health that only worsened in the social isolation brought about by the pandemic. Steven’s passing was difficult to navigate during what many would already consider a complex stage of life.
Through communication from SWAPA, John’s family learned about the scholarship. After a little paperwork, submitting the application, and waiting to hear if he was awarded, John felt grateful when he got the call. “I didn’t know if I would have the option to continue school … I didn’t have anything else to cover it. The scholarship was incredibly helpful for me. It covered half my expenses.” John said he sees it as a continuation of how SWAPA has supported his family while his dad was flying and after he passed.
For those struggling, whether it be with mental health, the loss of a family member, school, or the various things life throws at us, John reminds us to “not stop moving.”
“People don’t want to go through the discomfort. Makes you feel good in the short. Don’t stop moving and embrace discomfort when it’s necessary. Confront the hard stuff.”
Authored by Communications Editor Jennifer Norris.
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