By David Swanson ('04)
At Mars Hill Academy, we often speak about laying a foundation—one that equips students not only for college, but for a life of purpose and service. For alumni like David Swanson, that foundation becomes clearer over time. David recently shared with students how his experiences at Mars Hill shaped his path through the Air Force Academy, a career in engineering, and opportunities around the world—often in ways he did not fully recognize at the time.
I think I’ve had an interesting and somewhat unique career path. Attending a classical and Christian high school, then attending a military service academy, and eventually pursuing a career in a STEM field. I’ve had a lot of different engineering jobs. I’ve worked in labs, helped to develop technology, and I’ve worked together with lots of people—sometimes people in other countries. Throughout all these experiences, I’ve learned a lot about the military and what to expect when pursuing science and engineering as a career. I’ve been in situations that I really enjoyed, and also some that I didn’t enjoy as much. Some things were fun and some things were really challenging.
I had an interesting college experience at the Air Force Academy. I’ve moved a lot, and I’ve even worked in a few different countries. So today I want to talk to you about some of these experiences, and I want to tell you about some choices that I made after graduating from Mars Hill, and why I chose the path that I did.
Over the years, I’ve realized how much Mars Hill prepared me for the different experiences that I had both in college and after college. But when I was in your shoes, it was hard for me to see that coming. I didn’t always feel prepared. Since then, I’ve realized that many of the skills and concepts that I learned here became incredibly valuable later on—often in ways I didn’t expect.
It turns out, Mars Hill really laid the foundation for me getting through college, becoming an officer in the military, and doing well as an engineer. And I want you to know that you have that same foundation, and that same valuable training that I had.
Hopefully, for the students here, some of my experiences and some of the things I’ve learned might give you some information that could be helpful in planning your next steps after high school.
Let me back up and tell you a little bit about when I first started at Mars Hill. I was actually part of the very first group of students who enrolled in 1996.
I was in the 5th grade, and I believe there were only 27 students that first year. The uniforms were different, and we didn’t have such a beautiful building yet, but the mission of Mars Hill and the vision of its leadership has been a constant ever since the beginning. I stayed until I graduated from high school in 2004. We were so small that there was only one other student in my senior class, Ben Liebing, who I’m sure many of you know and is here visiting today as well.
When I was in high school, like all of you, I was starting to think about what I wanted to do next. For a while, I had no idea. That’s a hard decision, and honestly, it felt like there were too many options.
I wasn’t thinking about the Air Force back then. I didn’t even know anyone who had served in the military. I mostly thought about the classes I was taking and what interested me the most. My favorite class was math, so after getting advice from my parents and teachers, I decided to pursue some type of science or engineering.
They told me engineering was a great way to use math to solve real-world problems and become involved in technology. They also told me there were a lot of jobs for engineers—and I liked the sound of that.
The next question was what school I wanted to go to. I spent a lot of time looking at colleges all over the country and was encouraged to apply to some really reputable universities. That sounded intimidating to me. I wasn’t the best student, and I didn’t know if I could get into those schools. But with some hesitation, I decided to try.
While researching, I came across the Air Force Academy. It looked like a lot of work, and I wasn’t sure what the military would be like. But it had a great reputation for science and engineering, and it offered unique opportunities—basic training, obstacle courses, flying in planes, maybe even becoming a pilot.
So I decided to try.
It was a long application process that took months. Finally, during the spring of my senior year, I got a letter in the mail. I opened it and read, “we regret to inform you…”—not accepted.
That was devastating. Although, part of me was relieved. I had backup plans.
But that wasn’t the full story. I had been placed on a waiting list, and a couple weeks later, I received another letter—this time saying I had been accepted. After thinking it through, I decided I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
That summer, I started basic training and officially joined the Air Force Academy.
Let me pause and explain what a military service academy is.
We have four in the United States: the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy, West Point, and the Coast Guard Academy. The Air Force Academy is in Colorado Springs, up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
These are four-year accredited colleges with full academic programs. What makes them different is the added element of military training. Students join the military upon entry, which means additional structure and expectations—uniforms, fitness, inspections, and leadership training.
It’s a very demanding environment.
But with that challenge comes opportunity—excellent classes, advanced labs, and unique experiences. I participated in aviation programs, learned to fly gliders, completed solo skydives, toured military bases, and flew in different aircraft.
The goal is to develop leadership, responsibility, and discipline—skills that apply far beyond the military.
Despite how challenging it was, I felt surprisingly well prepared.
Mars Hill had already taught me discipline, accountability, attention to detail, and respect for authority. These qualities were incredibly helpful. I didn’t have to learn them from scratch—I just had to build on what I already had.
After choosing mechanical engineering, I began working at the Air Force Research Laboratory, developing advanced technologies. Since then, I’ve worked in labs, attended graduate school, and collaborated with experts around the world.
Looking back, I didn’t fully understand what a STEM career would actually look like.
STEM includes science, technology, engineering, and math—but also fields like economics, data science, and statistics.
Some people assume a classical education might not prepare you for STEM. But in my experience, the opposite is true. Learning to think critically, solve problems, and develop a strong work ethic was exactly what I needed.
One of the most important skills in STEM is communication.
Scientists and engineers must write, present, and collaborate constantly. Those who can’t communicate often struggle to advance. Mars Hill prepared me well for this through English, humanities, logic, and rhetoric.
Another key trait is global awareness. Successful scientists collaborate across cultures and countries. They are respectful, articulate, and adaptable.
I’ve worked with universities and researchers around the world—Switzerland, France, Romania, Nepal, Ukraine—and I’ve seen how important these skills are.
The most successful scientists are not just technical experts—they are communicators, collaborators, and global thinkers.
One of my teachers here once encouraged me to pursue writing and literature. When I chose engineering, I thought she might be disappointed.
But as an engineer, I write all the time. I present ideas, collaborate with teams, and communicate constantly. The skills I learned at Mars Hill became foundational to my career in ways I didn’t expect.
Finally, I want to share one last lesson.
My career path may look well-planned, but it wasn’t. It was full of uncertainty, stress, and unexpected changes. I’ve moved nine times, including internationally. Each move brought new challenges and anxiety.
But over time, I began to see that things were working out—even in ways I didn’t expect. What felt uncertain was actually part of a greater plan.
It turns out, I wasn’t the one in control—God was.
And that realization brought peace.
Even now, you’re making decisions—about classes, activities, college. These can feel overwhelming.
But while we should make wise choices, we also need to trust that God has a plan. Even when we don’t understand it, He is guiding our path and placing us where we need to be.
And for me, that has been incredibly comforting.