Constructing a future in neighborhood service

HAMLET — An undergraduate main in engineering physics opens a world of prospects after commencement from Lenoir-Rhyne College. William Blair, ‘23, (son of First United Methodist Church-Hamlet and Fellowship UMC pastor Dan Blair in Richmond County), plans to make use of his diploma to assist others by working with Rebuilding Collectively of the Triangle, a Raleigh-based nonprofit specializing in residence restore and development for weak householders locally.

“Working in development might sound odd for an engineering main, however that is what I’ve needed to do my entire life,” mentioned William Blair. “I’m a person of religion, so I’ve labored with residence renovations for individuals in want since I used to be in highschool, and I’m going to proceed that in my profession, dwelling out my religion by way of service.”

Blair realized about Rebuilding Collectively by way of his aunt, a pastor within the Raleigh space, and determined to use for a place with the group doing carpentry.

“They invited me to return on a workday with them, and on that day they had been changing home windows at somebody’s home. I confirmed up, began working with the group, they usually provided me the job.”

Though Blair knew he needed to work in carpentry and development from an early age, he additionally acknowledged how a level in engineering physics may take his development abilities to the following stage whereas permitting him flexibility in his profession choices. Final summer season, he labored for Pearce Building in Hamlet.

“Engineering is intently associated to development,” he defined. “For the form of hands-on work that I do, my research have given me a a lot better understanding of how the forces of physics apply to the structural parts of a constructing. Even for one thing easy like putting in new home windows, that understanding lets me do stable development that may final — and that’s what individuals need and deserve.”

Along with his accomplishments in his lecturers and his enthusiasm for carpentry and development, Blair has spent his 4 years at LR pursuing his different ardour: music. Actually, he has discovered mates and classmates are much less stunned by his post-college plans to deliver his engineering physics diploma to development and extra stunned that his diploma is in engineering physics.

“I got here to LR as a result of I needed to be a part of the band, and I acquired a music scholarship. I play trombone, acoustic guitar and bass guitar,” he shared. “I play within the marching band, wind symphony, wind ensemble and pep band. Most individuals see somebody who’s in a number of ensembles, they usually suppose ‘music main.’ As passionate as I’m about music, I didn’t wish to make it my profession. I’ve realized I may be obsessed with multiple factor.”

Blair plans to proceed to play with musical ensembles and teams, each on trombone and guitar, sooner or later. “My mother may be very musical, and each my dad and my grandfather performed trombone. It’s a household custom.”

He imagines he’ll proceed to steadiness his new profession and his love for music the identical approach he has over the past 4 years. “I’m nonetheless excited about my long-term objectives and path, however when you have a plan and a system for the day-to-day, I’ve discovered you possibly can accomplish rather a lot.”