Meet U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Brooke Thompson

Brooke Thompson, ’21 ΚΑΘ, U.S. Army ROTC Cadet, is the fifth generation of her family to serve in the military. In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Westminster College caught up with Thompson to find out how she feels about the significance of the holiday, how Westminster is helping her pursue a career in the military and what a potential Westminster Veterans Memorial on campus means to her. Read more about the security studies major from Lakewood, CO, below.

How do veterans’ experiences influence you?

Veterans’ experiences influence me a lot. I come from a military family and will be the fifth generation on my dad’s side to serve. My dad and our family are very proud of our legacy of service, and they’ve told me stories since I was a teenager that are a big part of why I chose to serve. I also had the privilege to meet Vietnam veterans in high school who had incredible stories and encouraged me to pursue a career in our Army today. I’m excited to be continuing the family legacy of service.

Why did you join ROTC?

I joined ROTC because it was the best way for me to be able to pursue higher education and serve my country at the same time. I’ve wanted to join the military since I was a kid, but I also knew I wanted to go to college after high school, so ROTC was the best avenue for me to be able to do both.

What has your experience with ROTC at Westminster been like?

My experience with ROTC at Westminster has been very positive. I have learned so much about leadership and who I am and want to be as a leader. I’ve met so many incredible people that I look up to, and I have come to love the Army and what it stands for — serving other people.

How do you feel about serving our country?

Serving my country is probably the thing I have chosen to do in my life that I am proudest of. I think our country and our military has so much potential to do good for our people and people all over the world, and I am honored and privileged to be a part of that.

What are your future plans?

I plan to attend graduate school for a master’s degree in security studies after I graduate from Westminster. After that, I want to pursue a career in the Army or public service through work in government and foreign policy development.

Is Westminster helping you become a leader?

Westminster is absolutely helping me to become a leader. I think the most important thing Westminster has taught me about leadership is how essential and valuable it is to keep an open mind and understand as much as you can about every point of view on a topic or problem. Being open, understanding and knowing how to work with a team means that we can solve problems so much more effectively. Westminster has taught me that.

What are some of your Westminster favorites?

My favorite part of Westminster is the people I’ve met here and the community we’ve built. I have made some of my best friends here, and all the professors and faculty members, every one of the people I meet daily, are welcoming and friendly. That has a huge positive impact on the environment here. I don’t really have a favorite professor, but the ones who have impacted me the most I would say are Dr. Tobias Gibson, Dr. Mark Boulton and Dr. Enrique Salas-Durazo. They have been a big part of my growth as a leader and student here at Westminster, and I’m grateful for that.

What other activities on campus are you involved in?

I am a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, the Young Americans for Freedom and am a Freshman Seminar mentor.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read and watch new movies and shows and spend time with my family, especially my younger cousins, nieces and nephews. When I have lots of free time, I love to travel, especially outside of the country.

How do you feel about the potential Westminster Veterans Memorial being constructed on campus?

I am very excited. I love that it is intended to honor veterans of all our nation’s wars, and I think it is a great way to honor our veterans and show them that we support all they do and have done for our country.

For more information on how Westminster serves students in the military, go here. To learn more about Westminster’s Veterans Memorial, email alumni@westminster-mo.edu.