Marco Zepeda

“(I) never had my dad in my life,” said Marco Zepeda, a recent graduate of the New Pathways for Good Dads program. “Having a father figure in a child’s life is worth it. It needs to be a consistent thing.”

Marco is the father of a two-year-old daughter, Cassandra. He wants to do right by her.

Because of his participation in New Pathways for Good Dads, a six-month fatherhood and relationships skills program, Marco gained a new appreciation for the role fathers play in the lives of their children. Beyond that, he gained a sense of stability. He wants to make sure his family is well taken care of.

Now fatherhood is a key part of Marco’s life. From waking up every morning to his daughter in his face “demanding him,” to him coming home from work to her running toward him wanting a hug, being Cassandra’s dad gives Marco purpose.

“Every child deserves a father in their life,” he said.

Like many fathers, Marco struggles with anxiety over his relationship with his partner and his role as a father. He admitted there was a period of time where his fears, insecurities and self-doubt became so strong that he was wondering if he could be a good partner and dad.

He knew he needed something different. Something new.

“Those were the main obstacles that eventually made me change my course to be a better person and go through Good Dads,” he said.

While taking classes, Marco appreciated the support and involvement from fellow participants. He described lessons wherein he and his fellow dad participants explored common fatherhood scenarios, charts and pro-con lists. The class worked together as a team.

“(It was) also nice seeing other dads there as well,” he said. “I didn’t think there would be as many, but there were quite a bit through class. It made me pretty happy seeing that.”

Marco also appreciated his class facilitators, who were there if any of the dads needed to talk. He admitted that, before Good Dads, he lacked some crucial communication skills, especially with regulating frustrations and listening to understand.

“My communication has improved during the courses,” he said. “I’m taking steps to be better, not just for my daughter but my relationship, for my little family overall. (Good Dads) helped me a lot with understanding myself.”

About the Author

Dora Gilreath is the communications assistant at Good Dads. She joined the team in 2024 and has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in creative writing at Missouri State University. She loves reading, writing and anything related to theater.