Nate Lowry – Communitarian of the Month

This month we are recognizing engineer Nate Lowry. Here’s what he told us when we asked about his volunteer experiences.

Why do you volunteer?

I know that hundreds of people put a lot of time into my future, so I’m just paying it forward to the next generation.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering? A favorite memory?

Helping others is the best feeling you can get in life. Realizing how a different set of circumstances would have really changed where you are in life is humbling. Also, you get to hang out with all those cool people you work with, but not at work.

Maybe I have too much fun volunteering. I don’t have a favorite memory; I have four:

• Watching my TeamMates mentee grow from probably not graduating high school to getting on track and receiving a college scholarship.
• Taking the Polar Bear Plunge, because there’s nothing like diving into a frozen lake dressed like four Nicholas Cage characters for a good cause.
• Driving around Lincoln looking for clues in the St. Monica’s Amazing Chase. There were some sweet prizes to be had, but it’s pretty competitive (shameless plug for my team in this year’s race).
• Kids want to rock out. At Academy of Rock, we let them.

How has your volunteer experience impacted your workplace?

It’s a great break from the day and you get to meet new folks.

What have you learned while volunteering?

I’ve learned how lucky I am to have been born into the situation and environment I was. Also, there are a lot more people, families, and kids right here in our town of Lincoln that really need help.

Do you have any advice for other volunteers or people who want to get involved?

The classic “it’s easy…just do it” applies, but I would put a twist on that. Find something you’re passionate about (music, gardening, politics, religion, card games, etc.) and look for an opportunity to help. You’d be surprised how many neat things there are out there.

Helping change a person’s life, whether through mentoring, distributing food, or just talking to them is the most rewarding experience you can have.