Exhausted from a long day of classes,
interning, work, and rugby practice, the towering 6-foot-five John James Pepper
pushed back his long, wind-blown hair and lethargically closed his apartment
door as he returned home at 9:45 p.m. for the first time since 7:45 a.m. He
threw down his bulging backpack and overflowing athletics bag, opened the
refrigerator, picked out a cold piece of pizza for dinner, grabbed his archery
book, and began studying for the exam he had at 8 a.m the next day.
JJ Pepper grew up in the small town of
Blanco, Texas. After graduating high school, he remained close to home as he
began studying health promotion at the University of Texas at Austin in 2009.
He always knew he wanted to help people when he grew up, but it wasn’t until he
suffered an injury in middle school during football season that he aspired to
help people by training them to live a healthier, physical life.
Pepper’s most notable symbol of his
willingness to help others drapes down his face, reaching below the neckline.
Two years ago, one of Pepper’s best friends growing up was diagnosed with
cancer. When she told him the news, he responded, “Well, take mine,” and vowed
to never cut his hair until she needed it. “If by grace of God she doesn’t go
into [chemotherapy], I can give it to locks of love,” he said.
Outside of his student life, Pepper
plays rugby on the university’s club team. “I really love to play rugby – it’s
probably my number one thing,” Pepper said as he described his out-of-school
activities. He enjoys playing on the team because “the best friends [he’s] ever
made are on the rugby team.” Noah Villalobos, the team’s former captain and
Pepper’s closest friend, says Pepper is a great ally to have on and off the
field, because he pours his blood and heart into everything. “No matter where
we are, I know he has my back,” Villalobos said as he laughed and followed up
with, “and he’s not bad as a wingman either.”
If he can’t be found in the classroom or
on the gridiron, try looking for him at one of his two jobs or his internship.
During the week, Pepper helps teach a personal training class with Fitness
Institute – Texas, also known as FIT. He also works as a strength and
conditioning intern with the college’s men’s basketball team, where he helps
the athletes stay fit to prevent injury from occurring during play. On the
weekends, Pepper stands guard outside of Rooftop, a bar located in the
well-known party district of Austin – east 6th street.
Pepper struggles with balancing his full
schedule. He said it’s nice that most of his extracurricular activities are
somewhat relative to his major, but his weekend job at the bar keeps him up
till 4 or 5 a.m., draining the energy he needs for the following week. “It’s
like a constant cycle of exhaustion, but I have to do it,” He sighed.
He “has to do it” because Pepper
financially supports himself. He doesn’t receive outside help from his family.
His mom, Peggy Pepper, said she wishes she could offer her son more monetary
assistance, but after her older two son’s college education and the increased
price of tuition, her and her husband simply can’t afford it. “I know it’s hard
for JJ, but he manages to keep his grades up. I am proud of him, “ she said
with a reassuring smile.
Although he has a demanding life -- two
jobs, an internship, 13 hours of college courses -- Pepper asks for just one
thing (other than not calling him John). He requests that, no matter what the
circumstances are, good people surround him. He concluded, “If I’m around the
right people, the setting doesn’t really matter, because I’m always able to
have a good time.”
