Leaving a legacy
Tyler Tolson, current ASUSU President, looked slightly to the right, chin resting in his hand, the last two years of his life in consideration as he thought about answering the question: Who is Tyler Tolson?
He likes movies and the True Aggie Cafe. He said he likes to think he’s a good husband on- and off-campus. He likes working out and playing sports. He’s an artist, a journal writer and a self-proclaimed nerd. But who is Tyler Tolson?
Becoming the man
As a child, Tolson said his biggest influence was his parents’ “horrific” divorce when he was 9 years old. He said the ripples from that event have shaped him into adulthood.
“When they were first divorced it was really difficult for me because I didn’t understand,” he said. “I just shut down and didn’t really talk to anyone. I had a hard time talking on the phone and looking my teacher in the eye.”
Tolson said it was this newfound introversion that started his habit of “watching people.”
“I would take note if someone did something that I liked. I was taking note of good qualities,” he said.
Because of his years playing sports during high school, Tolson was recruited by a school in Virginia to play lacrosse. He said he found his voice again during his experience there.
“The people I met there really helped me to open up and express my feelings,” he said. “I really opened up and started enjoying talking to people again.”
Tolson said the experience and the people he met at Southern Virginia University helped him decide to serve an LDS mission to Pocatello, Idaho. He said it was his mission that developed his “love for people and to help people.”
After Tolson returned from his mission, Tolson said his grandfather shared some advice that hit him “like a ton of bricks.”
“He said ‘If you want to be successful in life, help those people around you be successful,'” Tolson said.
This phrase, uttered by what Tolson described as an “extremely successful business man,” would be one of the major influences in his professional life.
“Now I had this phrase to associate with what I’d done as a child,” Tolson said. “It’s all about helping people be successful. I feel successful when I help others be successful.”
The woman behind the man
Nicole Watts married Tyler Tolson on Oct. 8, 2010.
Laughing, Tolson said, “She’s definitely the better half. She’s definitely more well-rounded then me.”
Tolson moved to Logan on Dec. 31, 2007 and didn’t have “a job or a car or a place to live.” While trying to find help moving, Tolson said he met a couple girls on campus who offered their assistance. The girls went on to invite Tolson to hang out at their apartment with their roommates.
“I was thinking ‘Me and seven girls? Yeah, I can do that,'” Tolson said. “Then Nicole came out.”
Tolson descibed first seeing Nicole by nearly singing the Hallelujah chorus. He said he asked himself “Who is this girl?” but came to find out she had a missionary coming home. After being acquaintances for a semester, Tolson said he thought she got married.
Later, he was invited to a friend’s formal dinner. He said he was reluctant to go but committed last minute. It was a dinner for singles, so upon hearing Nicole’s name, he immediately spoke up.
“I slapped my hands on the table and said ‘Just so you all know, I have a secret crush on her,” he said. “When she came in, it was that slow motion thing and the lights changed and I was captivated.”
Tyler Tolson: President
Tolson said his two years in office have been tiring but an intense learning experience.
“That was one of the first things I realized: This is not a joke,” he said. “You are making decisions that affect 25,000 lives. It’s heavy. That in itself has helped me in so many different ways to be confident in any area.”
One faculty member who has worked particularly close with Tolson is vice president for Student Services James Morales. In his career, Morales has worked at several universities and with many student body officers. Tolson, he said, was unique.
“He was very genuine,” Morales said. “He wasn’t all about ‘I’m the student body president and I’m special.’ He just seemed like a regular student who cared about the university.”
Morales said Tolson showed excitement in learning and working with him, in learning what Morales had to offer. It was Tolson’s determination that really struck him.
“After a while, at times, when he had finals or meetings or reports or assignments, you could see it was challenging for Tyler, yet he didn’t lose that energy,” Morales said. “I think a lot of people would have thrown up their hands and said ‘I can’t do anything.'”
One of the biggest struggles Tolson faced was the exhaustion associated with the job. Morales said even when Tolson’s energy was visibly spent, he never lost his spark.
“Was he tired sometimes? Yes,” Morales said. “There were times I would grab a power bar out of my desk and say ‘You need one of these.’ Even then, his smile never left him. His energy and his enthusiasm never left him.”
Morrales said it was easy to see Tolson in a more professional way, more than a regular student.
“In Tyler’s case, the transition to look at him as an equal was really easy,” he said. “There wasn’t a disconnect for me. He’s been very capable. I forget sometimes that he’s a student leader.”
Both Morales and Brent Crosby, the ASUSU executive vice president who has worked with Tolson on several initiatives, said Tolson has been an asset to USU.
“From a professional stand-point, he has a lot of traits and attributes that are innate and very well developed. He has incredible interpersonal skills,” Crosby said.
Crosby described his relationship with Tolson as one much like a mentorship, expressing trust in Tolson’s advice and friendship.
“I think it stands for itself that he’s the only president to be elected two consecutive terms,” Crosby said. “I think he’s done an incredible amount of good for the school. I would say USU is very lucky to have had Tyler Tolson’s help over the last couple years.”
So, who is Tyler Tolson?
“I’m just a regular guy,” Tolson said.
Regardless of his popularity with the student body and those he has worked with, Tolson said nothing he has done or accomplished for the university the last two years can be completely credited to him.
“I couldn’t have done it without the awesome teams. Nothing has come just because of Tyler Tolson,” he said.
Finally, he proclaimed a deep gratitude to those he’s met and worked with during his time as President and wished next year’s executive council good luck.
“Thank you to everybody,” he said.”It’s been a great experience.”
– k.vandyke@aggiemail.usu.edu