Thomas Husson is a military sniper turned English student turned University French instructor turned cheerleader.
A French native, Husson grew up in Paris in a well-educated family. He joined the French army at 19, straight out of high school. He said after hearing stories of his grandfather, who was killed in action as a general in the French marines, he was attracted to the army for the adventure.
“I had this image if I wanted to become someone in my life I had to join the army,” he said. “I wanted most of all to get out … and travel around the world.”
As a sniper and platoon sergeant for the special forces, he traveled throughout Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia and Africa.
“My experience, in comparison, wasn’t like the movies — it’s completely different,” he said. “When you live it you are inside. When you are out of breath and you are bleeding, you live it and it’s really hard.”
After serving 12 years in the army, he decided to continue his education in the West Indies when, by chance, he became friends with some University students who invited him to visit Bowling Green. On his visit to the states, Husson said he fell in love with the city.
“You have no idea, I love this college,” he said. “It’s really a nest for people to just hang out.”
A good friend of Husson, senior Marissa Sayre, met Husson in France three years ago and said the day they met was a memorable one.
“I just met him randomly, and he really took me under his wing.” she said. “At first it was kind of shocking … but he’s an infectious friend.”
Sayre said she loved “the way he’s interested in lots of different things. Any opportunity that arises, he is all about it.”
Among other accomplishments in the military, Husson earned a two-year computer science degree in five months.
“I don’t think I’m really smart, not at all,” he said. “Some people have abilities to play piano … I just have a good memory, and I am logical.”
Husson said while he is fluent in French and English and can speak basic German, Swedish and Italian, he would rather speak English than his native language.
“I really love the American culture,” he said. “I think it’s exotic and fascinating.”
In addition to studying French education at the University, he is a graduate assistant French instructor teaching French 1010 this semester.
Husson said when learning languages “you never stop learning about people … I think when you stop learning, you die.”
Junior Kate Noftsinger, a former student of Husson’s, said she’d rate him a “10 on the great teacher scale.”
“Because he’s a student and he’s so submerged in the BG experience … he’s willing to talk about cultural differences,” Noftsinger said. “He tells us what college kids need to know if we were dropped in the middle of France.”
Noftsinger said it’s important to her that a teacher is personable and approachable.
“He’s willing to make fun of himself about all that he didn’t understand about American culture when he first got here,” Noftsinger said.
The most important part of teaching, Husson said, is communicating and connecting with students. He said while he follows the syllabus, he hates giving quizzes because learning through fun is how students should learn a foreign language.
“It has to be a pleasure, not something boring,” he said. “I’ll say, ‘Close your books and tell me, what did you learn?'”
While he loves teaching, Husson said, it is his second hobby after cheerleading.
Husson said he was interested in cheerleading because it doesn’t exist in France, with the exception of American movies; in fact, he said, cheerleaders are referred to as ‘pom-pom girls.’ The first time Husson saw cheerleaders at a University football game, he liked that they represented the spirit of the school.
Although he had no experience, he hit the gym and practiced every day for two months in hopes of just a chance to try out for the squad.
Cheerleading coach Anne Marie King said, “He brings a spark of dedication to the program — he’s always willing to be there early and stay later.”
Husson’s experiences of coming to the U.S. show leadership, King said, making him an asset in the squad’s future.
“Imagine how funny it was to explain to my friends in France and to my family at home that I [went] from being an officer in [the] special forces and now I am a cheerleader — a ‘pom pom girl’ — at an American college,” he said.
Cheerleader Kelly Mogg said even though Husson could not participate in Nationals, he was at every practice cheering them on.
“He’s always so bubbly and happy to be wherever he is and that’s the best thing a cheerleader can be,” Mogg said.
Reflecting on his past experiences, Husson said students should be proud to go to the University; being here has taught him to love life.
“I had to always be serious during 12 years of my life, never smiling,” he said. “Now being at an American college everything’s so cool, so pretty, so entertaining and I love life.”