Student Spotlight

For students across the country, applying to college and finding a part-time job during their studies are two daunting tasks that quickly become reality in the pursuit of a college degree. Such was not the case for Ansley Thompson, the Outdoor Adventures Rental Center supervisor.

“My whole dad’s side of the family went to A&M, and one of my older brothers was here when I was applying to college,” Thompson said. “Growing up I was always like, I want to go to A&M, that was the only choice.”

Following in her family’s footsteps, Thompson graduated high school and moved to Texas A&M, though she arrived amidst a world still frightened of COVID-19. While the mania of March 2020 had long passed, many classes were still held remotely, isolation was still routine, and the sensitivity of vis-à-vis classes, relationships, and experiences was yet to return to pre-pandemic standards. As such, she began looking for opportunities to connect with people in-person.

Thompson said, “Everything was happening online, which was fine but not stellar, so I thought, oh my gosh, [Outdoor Adventures] is happening in-person and it’s a group of people who all like to climb, backpack, hike, and camp and do all the things I like to do.”

Thompson ebulliently applied for a part-time position with Outdoor Adventures and in time became the Rental Center supervisor. As part of the Rental Center staff, Thompson assists clients with gear rentals and oversees other student staff that work in the Rental Center. She can often be found working alongside fellow Aggies preparing tents, backpacks, and other outdoor essentials. But to Thompson, the glamor of working at the Rec lied within the relationships she found among people.

“I work at the Rec, but it’s also like a social org, which is such a testament to the job,” Thompson said. “In every different department, everyone you talk to is also all friends.”

She elaborated her respect of Outdoor Adventures’ sociability with a fond memory: a potluck that Outdoor Adventures staff hosts each semester. 

“Spring 2022 was Jason Kurten’s last potluck with us as director,” Thompson said. “We lined up a long line of tables, so everyone’s at the same table, and I was at the very end, but I remember poking my head down and looking all the way down the table and just thinking, wow, every spot is filled with all the people I love, and everyone’s happy.”

Thompson continued, “It has surprised me how much you really care about a job. I have never cared about a job so much. I love the vision of the program, of aiming to get people outside to have those experiences because they were such influential experiences for me. I just want to do whatever I can to push that vision forward and help move the program forward to accomplish that.”

As someone whose experiences with the Department of Rec Sports were defined by Outdoor Adventures and the cordiality of peers, Thompson provided this advice for any passersby interested in life at the Rec:

“Explore the rec center. People who go to lift love lifting, but there’s so much more. Try different things. Go get ping pong paddles one time, go to the rock climbing wall, wander down the hallway to Outdoor Adventures and just look around. There’s so much that people miss about the rec center and what they offer.”

She continued, “People want to help you find your passion, whether that is climbing, paddling, hiking, or camping. We even have yard games, so if you’re really into cornhole, we’ve got you. Just explore what there is to offer and find the thing that you love.”

Thompson will be interning with Garmin International this summer as a way to blend her passion for the outdoors with her degree in Computer Science, of which she will earn in 2024.