History teacher Tor Strom has been teaching since 2002. Before he was a teacher, he was a sergeant in the Marine Corps.

Where did you teach before South Lakes?

I taught in Georgia, and Oakton High School.

Why did you become a teacher?

I originally wanted to become a rodeo clown, but that was five years in college, and teaching was only four. Not really though, my mom was a teacher, and I like working with America’s youth.

When did you join the Marine Corps?

I joined in 1987 right after high school. I graduated, went to beach week for 2 weeks, and the day after went to boot camp. The only downside was that I was really hung over, it sucked.

Do you have any good boot camp stories?

Yeah, we were doing a drill where we would run and then they had us drink a lot of water, and it was to see who would throw up, and eventually everyone did, but I threw up first. It was like a chain reaction, after I threw up everyone else did. The gross part was we had to clean it up with wash clothes, but since I threw up first they used me as a mop.

Do you have any funny Marine Corp stories?

Once we were on patrol and we were supposed to be on government lands, and I shouldn’t have but I got us on civilian paths, because it was like three in the morning and it would be faster to get back. We saw this drunk driver crash into a mail box, and we’re like great we can’t leave him here, so we call in about the drunk driver, and we’re in full gear, no loaded guns but camouflaged and everything, and while we were waiting for the police to show up we were messing with him.