Thomas Souza: Building the Bridge Between Service and What Comes Next
Thomas Souza’s education story did not begin with a neat academic plan. It began with motion.
Thomas joined the Army while still in high school because he knew he wanted something beyond the life already mapped out around him. He grew up in a family of electricians, but he did not want to stay in his hometown or follow the path he saw in front of him. The military offered him both structure and possibility.
“I grew up in a family of electricians. I didn’t want to do trades. I wanted to leave my town just to get out.”
At first, he entered with a medical career in mind. He thought he might become a physician’s assistant. But after beginning coursework and seeing what that academic path would require, he realized it was not the right fit. Around the same time, the Army itself was making it clear that education mattered. College coursework was important for promotion, leadership development, and long-term advancement.
“I started maturing pretty quickly, and I realized that even though I don’t like reading and I don’t like doing all this stuff, I need an education.”
So Thomas started taking classes while serving full time.
He worked all day, attended night classes on base or at satellite locations, and slowly accumulated credits. That persistence led him to the Army’s Green to Gold commissioning program, which allowed him to complete his Bachelor of Science in Workforce Leadership and Development from the University of Louisville and transition from enlisted soldier to officer.
Education did not stop there.
While continuing to serve, lead, and provide for his family, Thomas went on to earn two master’s degrees: a Master of Science in Operational Studies from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a Master of Science in Leadership and Sustainability from Texas A&M University–Central Texas.
Upon reflection, he notes that his education helped him grow not only as a soldier, but as a future leader, husband, father, and professional. He’s quick to point out that he didn’t suddenly fall in love with school. As he put it plainly, “I still hated it.” But his mindset about his studies did evolve.
Thomas is currently preparing to transition out of the military and is seeking civilian employment.
He’s experiencing firsthand the realities of the job market, submitting résumé after résumé and often hearing nothing back. But he also knows that without education, the self-doubt in this season would be far worse.
The same leadership, operations, and management skills that made him successful in the Army are not always immediately visible to civilian employers. His degrees help bridge that gap, translating experience into language that others can recognize. They give shape and credibility to what he already knows how to do.
“Experience is super valuable, but people love to see the education underneath it as the foundation.”
Thomas’s journey reveals a truth many adult learners understand deeply: education can make you more legible to the world around you. It gives language to your capability.
What advice does Thomas have for others?
“Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you, because you never know who you’re going to meet or what avenue is going to open up.”
Center for Academic Innovation team member Bridgett Strickler interviewed Rehema Athman and authored this narrative. To explore additional adult learner stories, follow Bridgett on LinkedIn, where she regularly writes about adult learner comebacks. To learn about Bridgett’s deeply personal connection to this work, be sure to watch her TEDx talk, “If you’re going back to school, community may be the medicine.”