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"There aren't many places in life where people with such opposite views on a difficult issue can treat each other with respect and dignity. Stanford happened to be one of them," Thompson said.
Prior to attending Stanford Law School, Thompson graduated from Yale University in 2002 with a degree in economics, specifically public policy, and computer science.
"After four years in the bucolic sunshine of New Haven, I was ready for a move to the gritty, gray streets of Palo Alto," said Thompson.
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"He showed up on the first day in an impeccable suit and his trademark bowtie. He immediately began addressing students by their last names, having spent the week prior to school memorizing each and every one of our names and faces. His passion for teaching was incredible; he let students work through each and every Socratic problem without telling the answer but gently guided discussion so that we heard and appreciated all sides. On a daily basis, he would do things like leaping on top of a podium to demonstrate a point of contract law or wearing a Steelers jersey for the day to demonstrate how the numbering system is a formality," Thompson said of Cole.
During his time at Stanford, Thompson kept himself busy. In addition to his rigorous studies, he was extremely active in several student organizations, including, but not limited to, the Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto/Volunteer Attorney Program; the Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance; the Stanford Law and Policy Society; the Stanford Entertainment and Sports Law Association; and the Stanford intercollegiate ice hockey team, on which he played left wing.
"Student groups are a great way to meet people and explore different interests," Thompson said. "Here at Stanford, we had groups ranging from the political (ACS and the Federalist Society) to the personal (the Older and Wiser Law Students Association). Each organization allows students to express a different side of their personal, professional, or political life. Getting involved is also a great way to gain a lot of the skills that employers will look for, from teamwork to a mastery of the Bluebook to knowing how to navigate your school's bureaucracy."
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He said that the hardest part of the climb was the summit night. Starting at 14,000 feet at midnight, the climbers ascended another 5,340 feet to reach the summit, which stands 19,340 feet above sea level. Since the climb was made at night, Thompson and his fellow climbers had to endure freezing temperatures and the inability to see more than the outline of the mountain in the pitch black of night. They also had to deal with quickly decreasing oxygen levels; they started out taking breaks after three steps, then after two, and finally had to lean on their poles after every step taken.
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"Finally, after what felt like 10 hours, the sun started to break the horizon, and we could see the vast swath of Africa stretched out below us, with the icy glaciers of the summit on either side of us. The guides let out a whooping song saluting the rise of the sun, and a group of Irishmen ahead of us began their own victory song," Thompson said. "Finally, we had done it. The views from the top were well worth the climb up, and the view of the famous sign was made that much sweeter by knowing that we had earned it with our own sweat and tears."
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"I think the climbing bug may have bit me," said Thompson. "A lot of people on Kili spoke very highly of the Annapurna Circuit [in Nepal] route, as well as some amazing trips in New Zealand. It's hard not to want to recapture that experience."
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In the meantime, Thompson will begin his foray into legal practice as a clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
