Atlanta Adkins is the surviving Daughter of Sergeant Dustin Adkins, who lost his life in 2006, while serving with the 5th Special Forces Group.
My name is Atlanta Adkins, I am an entrepreneur, SOWF graduate, and daughter of the late SGT. Dustin M. Adkins. I am the owner of Adkins Studio 22, a salon built on the mission of “Where beauty meets purpose.” The name for my salon, Adkins Studio 22, derives from my father’s name and his 22 years of life that continues to shape mine daily. I chose this profession because I love helping others feel confident and like the best version of themselves. Being able to watch someone’s face and eyes light up when they see their new look reminds me how powerful confidence in yourself truly is.
While not just a decorated soldier, my father was a devoted husband and dad who approached life with purpose and intention. After learning my mother was bearing their first child, he chose to join the service, determined to provide stability and a future for his family. He once shared with a family member that he couldn’t make a living for a family at Sonic, a small moment that reflects hugely on his character, a strong sense of responsibility and love. In a world where turning from responsibility is the easiest thing to do, my father leaned into his, almost as if he already had his helmet on and boots hitting the ground running.
Although I was only two years old when my father passed, my understanding of grief developed gradually over time as I grew. Grief is not linear, and it took years to understand what his loss meant to me and how it would shape my life. Rather than allowing myself to use his death as an excuse, I chose to let it become the reason I strive to live each day with purpose and intent just as he did. Even though I did not have the opportunity to grow up knowing him, I believe I have grown into a young woman he would be immensely proud of.
The support I received from SOWF during my time in cosmetology school came at a pivotal moment in my life. I had recently lost VA funding and was unsure how I could afford the state licensing exams and the costs to begin my career.
The funding SOWF provided allowed me to pass the state licensing exam on the anniversary of my father’s passing and start working in a salon. That opportunity gave me the experience and confidence to open my own salon just nine months after the exam. Allowing me to give my father’s name a new living legacy. I am extremely grateful and thankful to every single donor and sponsor whose generosity makes stories like mine possible.
