US Marine veteran, first-generation student awarded Fulbright in Honduras
Austin Sowers’ return to civilian life after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps was initially disheartening. He found himself confronted with the same question that many veterans face after leaving the service: Now what?
After enrolling in courses at Arizona State University, Sowers began struggling to take a true interest in his classes and suffered academically. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he became mired so deeply in a depression that he decided to drop out of college.
It was during this time that he stumbled upon the work of author and philosopher Peter Singer — in particular, his work on effective altruism, which asks how one can maximize their ability to help others. Energized and inspired for the first time in years, Sowers’ newfound sense of purpose led him back to ASU, where he changed his major to philosophy and discovered the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Attracted to Fulbright's mission to promote “mutual understanding among nations through engagement in a host community,” Sowers applied with support from the Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement (ONSA), along with mentorship and letters of recommendation from his professors, including School of Historical, Philisophical and Religious Studies associate teaching professors Jeffrey Watson and Thad Botham.
Botham taught Sowers in PHI 300: Philosophical Argument and Exposition, one of the most difficult courses for philosophy students, and saw firsthand how his attitude affected the classroom and his peers.
“Austin oozes positivity,” Botham said. “I’ve seen him boost up his fellow peers, even while challenging them to mature in their thinking. He cares about the vulnerable and seeks to learn from them.”
In December 2023, Sowers accomplished his longtime goal of being the first person in his family to graduate from college, receiving a bachelor’s degree with the academic distinction of magna cum laude. Then, four months later, he was notified that he was the recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award in Honduras, beginning fall 2024.
“Through Fulbright, I will not only help others, but broaden my cultural understanding as well as refine my linguistic capabilities, paving the way for a successful career with the State Department after my time in Honduras concludes,” Sowers said.
Waston has every confidence in Sowers’ ability to do just that.
“Austin shows an eagerness to understand the perspective of others as well as a great deal of courage, confidence and flexibility,” Watson said. “He wants to use his abilities to help those who are less advantaged than himself, and I believe he will make an impact in the world by encouraging others around him to think clearly and deeply.”
ASU News reached out to Sowers for an interview about his experiences at ASU and his plans for the future.
Editor's note: Answers have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Question: What attracted you to apply for the Fulbright ETA? And why Honduras?
Answer: My interest in Fulbright came hand in hand with my aspirations to rejoin the federal government as a public servant. After spending my 20s abroad as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, it became apparent to me that I was happiest when I was working side by side with others who shared a common goal of unity and public service.
I knew that I was an ideal candidate for the Fulbright, but I found myself not knowing where I could make the best impact. After several meetings with the ONSA office, Honduras came up as a viable option because of the nature of its history with the U.S. I felt that it was only right that I do what I could to support our neighbors who, in the past, have always supported us.
Q: How do you anticipate your Bachelor of Arts in philosophy to be useful during your time in the Fulbright program?
A: Language acquisition is a hard thing. Those of us who undertake (the challenge) to achieve near-native proficiency find that oftentimes we have to think outside the box, which requires one to be very comfortable with engaging difficult ideas and finding work-arounds to problems that present themselves — something that philosophy teaches from the get-go. I have found that what separates students of philosophy from other degree programs is the willingness to put themselves in uncomfortable and often unwinnable positions within language and reasoning in order to further fortify existing beliefs or open themselves up to different perspectives of subjectivity.
Q: After the Fulbright, your tentative plans are to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs and leadership through ASU’s School of Politics and Global Studies. Why is this degree is attractive to you?
A: ASU employs many former ambassadors, generals and experts from many different governmental sectors in order to equip students to interpret diplomacy. I believe that through this program, I will be able to continue developing myself as both a thinker and as a leader while utilizing my firsthand knowledge of Honduran culture in order to prepare myself for a future role in diplomacy. My hope is to return to Honduras for a second time as a public servant, but this time as an employee through the U.S. State Department.
Q: Is there any advice you’d like to share with other students interested in applying for a Fulbright?
A: This process was difficult and scary but, in the end, it was rewarding. Find your goals and work toward them with an unrelenting attitude for success. There were many days where I had writer's block, and I can remember two times specifically I felt hopeless in being able to develop a short and refined writing style that captured attention from the first sentence. Do not let others define your path; cultivate your own success through hard work. And, as the old saying goes, the harder you work, the luckier you seem to get.
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