Gary Thomsen III

Hello, I am a 31 year old Aboriginal Indigenous Native American, returning to college for a statistic, of “people who return to college after 10 years.” I am an experienced worker in restaurants since the age of 14, Factories since the age of 20, as well as general labor since I was old enough to rake and mow the lawn.

I am currently working on finishing a 2-year associates in Manufacturing Operations Management.
I just finished a Stainless Steel Tungsten Welding Diploma during the Summer semester, and Construction Trades Diploma during 2023 Spring Semester.

I finished my spring semester with a 3.769 GPA earning the Deans List Honorable Mentions for Honor Roll.

I come from a broken family of divorce and unsolved murders. Having Indigenous family, there are less than 7,000 remaining Ho-Chunk Natives - as of 2023.
Racism greatly effected my life, as I grew up in a community that lacked diversity, and was quickly minorities and discriminated. When I graduated, I did not get to walk, as I was hospitalized. Finally walking the stage may 13th, 2023 was a very proud moment for My mother (who was absent most of my life,) and myself. My father, a military drop-out of basic training, who spent his life disciplining me and treating me as if I were a criminal, was not present for my graduation.

In High School I became President of Choir, Varsity in Basketball and Football, and neither of my parents were there to be supportive. Along with these extra curricular, I was also an active power lifter and participated in DECA competitions earning a Bronze Medal for 3rd place conference. All of this was accomplished while I had been working at a restaurant since my Junior year, after leaving a General Store at the age of 16.

I’m still unsure what career I would like to be part of, but I do know that my fallback will be helping manage a restaurant, as well as general labor jobs including yard maintenance, tree trimming/climbing, and landscaping.