Class of ’26 Reflection: Simon McNair

Simon McNair is a senior in the Caldwell Fellows Class of 2026 from Asheville, North Carolina studying Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a concentration in Ecological Engineering. He is passionate about the environment and is interested in pursuing conservation work, particularly in stream and wetland restoration. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and staying active through running, climbing, and playing soccer and pickleball.

Looking Back

In his sophomore year, Simon served on the Habitat for Humanity service team, which was transitioning its partnership from the Wake County office to Habitat NC. This much smaller organization supported affiliates across the state and as a result, the team’s work was less structured, allowing members greater influence in determining their project. As discussions progressed, a teammate raised the question of whether their proposed project would even truly benefit Habitat for Humanity. In seminar they had discussed critical thinking when it comes to service; keeping the people you serve at the forefront and being conscious of when your help is not beneficial or needed. Simon recognized that he had let that slip from his mind, but not for long. From that point forward, and during his subsequent two years as the housing team teaching assistant, he prioritized aligning decisions with the organization’s actual needs, as opposed to helping just to say you helped.

This same year, Simon also participated in an alternative service break trip to Hoonah, Alaska, funded by a Caldwell Fellows experiential learning grant. Through this trip, Simon was given firsthand cultural exposure, as well as introduced to several real-world examples of servant leaders. Hoonah is home to many Native Alaskans of Tlingit descent, whose culture includes the division into Raven and Eagle moieties. He was particularly struck by the community’s funeral practices, in which members of the opposite moiety take responsibility for funeral logistics of the grieving group, allowing them space to mourn. Bearing such a heavy burden for those at their lowest resonated with Simon.

In Alaska he also encountered a teacher at a local school who, despite not being a native Alaskan, had spent years building relationships with a small group of students. Even though he was a foreigner and had taught the same children for three years, he invested so much into each of them and knew just how to encourage them to be their best selves. Simon’s group also met a local mother who played a central role in the community, sharing Tlingit culture, supporting the school, and fostering dozens of children over the years. These experiences provided Simon with a clear and tangible understanding of what it means to be “rooted in leadership;” it’s a lifelong commitment grounded in culture, consistency, and care.

Simon is grateful to have been challenged by his Caldwell Fellows experience, particularly through his two wilderness trips. His first trip to Colorado, he was challenged both physically and mentally but left with a strong desire to repeat the experience. Two years later, he had that opportunity: returning as a student leader for a trip to California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Despite being advertised as the same level of difficulty, the California expedition proved far more demanding due to altitude sickness, harsh weather, and the added responsibility of leadership. These challenges forced him to reevaluate what he valued in wilderness experiences.

Dealing with a severe, ongoing headache and exhaustion after a long day of hiking, Simon was at perhaps his lowest point of the trip. As the group arrived at camp, everyone was at the point of collapse, ready to eat and call it a day. Simon was prepared to follow suit when the trip leaders, equally fatigued, asked him to take charge of preparing dinner. In that moment, he recognized that even the most experienced members of the group were struggling, and they were turning to him at their own low point. Despite his own discomfort, he stepped up to support the team. Though seeming minor, this moment became one of his proudest from the trip, reinforcing his ability to lead through service. Preparing for another outdoor adventure this summer, Simon recognizes now that every experience is opportunity to glean something new, and no two experiences will provide the same insight. “I know that my upcoming trip will challenge me in new ways, but I am confident that I can embrace the difficulty and grow from the experience.”

I know that my upcoming trip will challenge me in new ways, but I am confident that I can embrace the difficulty and grow from the experience.

Looking Inward

One activity that stands out to Simon from his sophomore seminar is the emotional intelligence assessment taken toward the end of the semester. Having already taken personality tests like the Meyers-Briggs, he wasn’t too phased by the results of yet another self-evaluation. That is, until he found himself revisiting them during a long drive the following week. While he had participated in discussions about emotional intelligence and reflected on his own strengths and weaknesses, he had never encountered such a concrete, quantifiable evaluation of it. His empathy score was particularly low, which led him to question what that meant for his relationships and his development as a servant leader. Throughout the remainder of his college experience, he became more intentional about understanding his social-emotional strengths and limitations. “As a person and as a leader, it is more important to understand ourselves than it is to try and overcome all of our flaws.”

As a person and as a leader, it is more important to understand ourselves than it is to try and overcome all of our flaws.

As a senior in high school, Simon once spent a night camping alone without any distractions in an effort to create intentional space for reflection. Although he has not replicated that exact experience in college, he has found smaller ways to reconnect with himself through the outdoors. “I feel as though spending time outside helps me reflect and reconnect me to my roots.” These moments have helped him reset and gain clarity. He remembers interrupting one long drive back to campus by stopping spontaneously to take a hike. This gave him an opportunity to realign himself for the rest of the semester. Looking forward, he hopes to be more intentional about creating time for solitude and reflection.

Looking Forward

Throughout his final two years at NC State, Simon spent significant time considering his future and the type of life he wanted to build. He often found himself dismissing opportunities that did not align perfectly with the plans he had drawn up in his head, however guidance from his Caldwell alumni mentor and coach led him to adopt a more open mindset. Just because an opportunity wasn’t exactly what he wanted didn’t mean it wasn’t a good chance to grow. “Whether it is taking a new job, moving to a new city, or trying something different in your social life, sometimes it is worth trying a new experience just for the sake of being able to learn from it.” He learned the value of stepping into uncertain opportunities, recognizing that even if it turned out not to be enjoyable, it was an important step nonetheless.

Simon has come to the bittersweet realization that he may never find another group of people quite like the Caldwell Fellows, but that won’t stop him from taking what he has learned and pouring it back into other communities. Among the many traits associated with Caldwell Fellows, he most values the shared commitment to going one step further. “Whether it comes in the form of reflection, conversation, service, or having fun, Caldwells put in the extra effort and teamwork needed to make each experience special.”

Whether it comes in the form of reflection, conversation, service, or having fun, Caldwells put in the extra effort and teamwork needed to make each experience special.

The Caldwell experience is fundamentally defined by community. While each fellow is accomplished individually, the strength of the program lies in the recognition that the Fellows would be nothing without those individuals coming together. This is deeply ingrained in the program, down to the selection process, which emphasizes building a cohesive class rather than simply choosing standout individuals. As he looks ahead, Simon is committed to continuing his personal growth by showing up authentically and challenging himself to go deeper. He understands that building meaningful community takes time and intention, and he aims to foster environments rooted in authenticity, respect, and ongoing growth. We are excited to watch Simon use what he has learned to make his mark on the world.