Morning Ceremony Graduating Class Speaker: Brady Reinhard

Saying Yes

“It was definitely not how I thought it was going to go.” —Brady Reinhard

Like most first-year, first-generation college students living on campus, Brady Reinhard looked forward to (and was admittedly a bit intimidated by) the typical unknowns of college, such as navigating classes, campus life, cafeteria food and newfound independence. Reinhard grew up in rural Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay was just a short drive down Algoma Road from his hometown of New Franken. The prospect of living on campus promised a vast array of opportunity.

He also saw college as a way to overcome his natural shyness and become more comfortable sharing his voice in both academic and social settings. “Moving just five miles away to campus felt like a whole new world. It was my first taste of real independence,” Reinhard recalls. But this was the Fall of 2020. The COVID pandemic was unfolding and growing, making college—and life itself—anything but typical.

Most facilities were shutting down, and students still living on campus were confined to their rooms. “My roommate and I spent a lot of time in our room since there wasn’t much to do on campus.” And while Reinhard and his roommate were becoming good friends, his goal of overcoming his lifelong shyness was being severely tested.

His shyness did not reflect his active mind and natural tendency to delve deeply into all sides of a discussion. “My mom always thought I’d make a good lawyer because I liked to argue.” But fate brought him a far greater hurdle to overcome at an early age—the death of his father. After that, he discovered that school could be far more than just a building filled with classrooms and realized his true calling.

“I remembered a third-grade teacher who really supported me when my dad passed away. I promised myself then that I’d become a teacher.” That epiphany resulted in Reinhard naturally gravitating toward and associating more with his teachers than with fellow students. “I mean, the way I got through high school was forming connections with teachers that I had, and I would go to their rooms and have conversations with them, which made it a lot easier.”

Now, finally in college, he found it tough to connect with professors and classmates due to online education. The COVID restrictions also impacted his ability to fully acclimate to the college experience he had been expecting. In-person “hybrid” classes were an equally surreal experience. “We’d sit in class, distanced, with masks on, and most discussions were online.” Once COVID restrictions lifted, he decided to do something about it—by saying “yes.”

One of his first yeses was joining the Model EU and Civic Scholars programs, which became transformative experiences. “Being part of the Model EU and Civic Scholars programs really helped me break out of my shell,” he recalls.

The Model EU program at UW-Green Bay is a student organization that simulates the workings of the European Union. Students participate in national conferences, such as the annual event at Indiana University, where they debate and adopt resolutions on various topics like energy independence, COVID vaccinations, and cybersecurity.

The Model EU program became his stage for engaging in debates and discussions with peers from across the country. This experience boosted his confidence and public speaking skills. His dedication and growing leadership abilities did not go unnoticed, and he eventually became the president of the Model EU for three consecutive years. In this role, he not only honed his diplomatic and organizational skills but also mentored other students, helping them find their voices just as he had found his.

Through Civic Scholars, Reinhard was introduced to community service and leadership opportunities, eventually interning with the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce. “That’s a class that connects students with community service and leadership opportunities around Green Bay,” he explains. “I worked with their economic development team, visiting businesses and helping with research to develop advertising campaigns.”

Now in his final year, Reinhard has taken his place in front of the classroom, student teaching high school students about global issues and U.S. History. For him, teaching is more than just delivering lessons—it’s about forming the same kind of supportive connections he experienced with his third-grade teacher. “To me, the most important part is forming that connection. I mean, obviously, the teaching part is important, but actually talking to them and understanding where they’re coming from—that’s what makes an impact.”

And his advice to a fellow first-year student trying to find their way in a whole new world? “Get out of your comfort zone—and say ‘yes'”