FROM THE ISLANDS TO INDIANA
“The beach and the ocean are just such a big part of me. It’s definitely something I’m going to miss,”
has already proven his time management skills balanc- ing training, earning a Punahou diploma, even selfless- ly dedicating his scarce free time to do some volunteer coaching in the community, running volleyball clinics for young kids with his club team. And the OCC mem- ber even manages to sneak in some time for his other passions, including paddling out on a longboard at Ala Moana Bowls. Thompson says that though he may be best known for his spikes, he spends as much time as he can get in the ocean, “[I] always try to go to the beach or surf; I always want to get in the ocean, that’s for sure,” said Thompson. “The beach and the ocean are just such a big part of me. It’s definitely something I’m going to miss,” he notes of his time in Hawai‘i’s water. He tries to get in some ocean time daily—a trait he inherited from his surfer-mom, his other hero, “It’s always kind of just been me and her. She’s just always been really good about making sure I have my head on straight, that I’m keeping up with my responsibilities, and making sure I’m working hard in both school and volleyball.” Beyond surfing and volleyball, Thompson has an art- sy side as well, which has fueled his interest in an even- tual career in graphic design. “I love drawing, I love working with colors…stuff like that. I do a lot of digital
stuff and I did a lot of photography throughout high school so kind of just mixing those two ideas sounded pretty interesting to me [as my major].” And ever the teen, Thompson can occasionally get into binge-watch mode, even squeezing in some trash reality shows—and plenty of laughs—with friends. If nothing else, Thomp- son is already a hometown success story, an athletic su- perstar, and a well-rounded, accomplished role model on the cusp of a promising future, starting with serving up some aloha-style pride on the nationally acclaimed courts of Indiana’s Ball State University. “Volleyball is just such a big part of my life. It’s definitely helped me grow into a better person outside of it. That’s for sure.” A hui hou, Keau!
16 AMA | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022
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