Excellence is Being Part of Something Larger than Yourself

“For me, as a veteran, I like to take the day not only to thank the veterans in my life, like my dad, but also to reflect on two of the most important times for me while I was in the army and, it's hard to believe, thus far in my life: West Point and my first unit, the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion Airborne Special Operations.”

At West Point, from boot camp to academics to passing PT requirements, Thebaud learned that it’s okay to lean on others when things get tough. “I found myself wondering pretty early on, why did I ever sign myself up for this,” she shared, “and then leaning on my classmates who were pondering the exact same question so that we could all get through this together.”

She also learned that she was capable of more than she thought. “West Point has a unique system of essentially breaking people down and in breaking their barriers down, everybody, no matter who you are, at some point, seriously contemplates quitting and leaving, but if you decide to stay, you build your inner fortitude, and you keep pressing, and you keep going.”

After graduating from West Point, Thebaud traveled to Fort Jackson, SC, for the Basic Officer Leader Course for the Adjutant General Corps and was ultimately assigned to the 95th Civil Air Force Affairs Brigade (Airborne), 91st Civil Affairs Battalion, where she served for five years as the battalion S1, or Personnel Officer, and was directly responsible for about eight to ten soldiers at any given time. “… of all my many opportunities, I am most humbled by and thankful for the opportunity to work with and especially learn from these incredible people.”

She went on to leave students with this recommendation and advice; “I strongly encourage any of you who have an interest in the military to speak up. Reach out to me. Reach out to your faculty here at Foxcroft. I can firmly say, without a shadow of a doubt, my life would not be where I am today without West Point and the 91st. If you think it may not be for you — and it is not for everyone, that is okay — I offer this to you instead, something that West Point taught me: take your preconceived notions of yourself — I'm not good at math, I'm not a fast runner, I'm not brave enough to stand up and be a leader. It's too much work. I don't know if I have those skills — take all those doubts and think again. West Point and the soldiers of the 91st taught me to strive for excellence in all that you do, and the way to actually achieve that excellence is by being part of something larger than yourself. Be there for one another… you'll be surprised how far you can go when you see yourself as part of something larger than just your individual self.”

After her service, Thebaud earned her J.D. at American University and currently practices law for Cooley LLP, where she represents clients in high-stakes government enforcement matters, and her pro bono practice is focused on helping active-duty service members and veterans.

Following her presentation, Thebaud answered multiple student questions and even stayed after Morning Meeting to chat longer with interested students. 

Thank you, Ms. Thebaud, for your service and for sharing your time and story with us!

To watch video of Christine's Morning Meeting presentation, please click here.