Name: Nicholas Rawlings
Hometown: Wendell, North Carolina
Degrees: Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Information Technology (dual degree program)
Why did you choose UNC Charlotte?
It’s a friendly place where the faculty and staff genuinely care about the well-being of their students. From the moment I first visited the campus as a high school senior, I have felt welcomed and accepted here.
Who is your favorite professor and why?
I’m going to cheat and name three:
- David Thaddeus is always willing to go an extra mile (or ten) for his students. Plus, there’s never a dull moment when he’s around.
- Kelly Carlson-Reddig is one of the most positive and uplifting human beings I have ever met. She has an uncanny ability to find something positive and constructive to say about every student’s work.
- Greg Snyder has infected generations of students, including me, with his passions for well-crafted artifacts, great literature and thoughtful design.
What are your immediate plans following graduation?
I will work full-time at Passero Associates, an architecture and engineering firm based in Rochester, New York, that has an office here in Charlotte.
What excites you most about your program of study?
Every design problem presents a unique set of challenges which, in turn, provides new opportunities to learn and grow with each new project.
What do you know about yourself now that you didn’t know before coming to UNC Charlotte?
I’ll just say that I’ve gotten to know myself better. I’m more confident of my abilities, more conscious of my deficiencies, and more capable of overcoming whatever obstacles life or academia throws my way.
What advice would you give to an incoming student?
As you move from high school to college and graduate school and beyond, you have to change how you think about your education. You’re not just a passive recipient of a teacher’s knowledge anymore, but an active participant in whatever classroom, lab, or studio you choose to engage in. Yes, you will still benefit from the comprehension and experience of your professors, but they will also learn from you. A university is a place where knowledge is shared among all.
Summarize your experience here in three words.
Passion, exhaustion, fulfillment
Photo: Jordan G. Estabrook, University Communications