From Trigonometry to Triumph: A USD Veterans Journey of Growth

Hunter Thompson enlisted in the U.S. Navy the day after his high school graduation in 2016. At this point in his life, he had just failed trigonometry and held little interest in higher education. Now, the former Sailor sits in advanced electrical engineering courses at the University of San Diego (USD), having mastered calculus and beyond.

"I wasn't the most ambitious kid when it came to school," Thompson recalls with a laugh.

For Thompson, military service was always part of the plan. His grandfather had served as a radioman on a destroyer during Vietnam, his brother as a Navy corpsman. The decision to enlist felt natural, even inevitable. While he expected to report to Souda Bay, Greece after completing training, the Navy had other plans — sending him to Bahrain.

It was there that Thompson, as an E-4 (Petty Officer Third Class), would face his first major leadership test: overseeing a $2.5 million airfield project and managing 18 Sailors. "I've never met another E-4 that was a project supervisor," Thompson says, reflecting on his initial nervousness. But he approached the challenge with a straightforward philosophy: "I'll never ask you to do something that I wouldn't do myself."

Overseeing a diverse crew, Thompson could often be found "busting forearms or greasing chains" alongside his team. When faced with unfamiliar tasks — from reading construction plans to working with concrete — he wasn't afraid to admit what he didn't know. "I wasn't going to just B.S.," he explains. "If I didn't know how to do something, I would find somebody who knew how to do it, or somebody that had done it, and ask them questions."

While he thrived in his military leadership role, he began to envision a different future. "I didn't see myself staying enlisted for 20 years," he says. "I knew I wanted to challenge myself." Inspired by the engineering officers he served under, Thompson made the bold decision to pursue higher education.

The transition from military service to academia meant starting from scratch. Beginning at San Diego City College, Thompson rebuilt his mathematical foundation from algebra up. When a professor mentioned USD in passing, Thompson's curiosity led him to research the campus. "I instantly fell in love with it," he says, adding he was drawn to the small class sizes and personalized attention.

He applied to USD and was accepted.

At USD, Thompson found more than just an education; he discovered a community through the Military and Veterans Center. "The level of care that people like Mr. Nelson Chase and Ms. Tiffany Anderson show, it's unmatched anywhere I've ever been," he says. This support system, combined with accessible professors who regularly open their offices to have one-on-one conversations with students, has created what Thompson describes as a family.

Now a junior in electrical engineering, Thompson's transformation extends beyond academics. He's the only one among 13 grandchildren following in his grandfather's engineering footsteps. His goals include pursuing a master's degree in engineering management and leadership, with aspirations to work for a company like San Diego Gas & Electric. But perhaps more importantly, he hopes to inspire other veterans who might doubt their academic potential.

"I get it," Thompson says, addressing fellow veterans considering higher education. "I sit in class and there's some kids that are just wizards. But I always hate when I hear people say, 'Oh, I couldn't do engineering,' or, 'I can't do that.' If I can do it, anybody can do it." He pauses, then adds, "Some of the best things I've ever learned came from hitting rock bottom. It's not about how many times you fall — it's about getting back up." 

— Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)