Wake Forest Magazine December 2002 - Past Issues - Wake Forest ...

Reggie Mathis wilmington, n.c.
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With a maturity and confidence belying his age, Reggie
Mathis could probably skip college and get right into politics.
He’s already been elected governor of N.C. Boys’ State
(coincidentally held at Wake Forest), narrowly lost a race for
national Boys’ Nation president, and met the President of
the United States. But he’s got a lot he’d
like to do at Wake Forest first, and he’s
trying to be patient with what he foresees
will be a time of “hurried expectation”
the next four years. His strong faith will
ultimately determine what path he takes
during college and afterward, he says.
Mathis is one of a record number of
minority students–14 percent–in this
year’s freshman class. “I’ve met other
African-Americans who have gone
through Wake Forest, and I thought it
would be an issue at first, but I feel blessed
that everyone is treated equally,” he said.
“I’d like to help change Wake Forest and
bring about more multiculturalism,
because education also instills learning about different cultures
and people. At the same time, I want to support the
Christian underpinnings of the University and what it stands
for.”
The youngest of four children, Mathis credits God and
his parents for his success and drive. His father has worked
for a food distributor for 30 years, and his mother works at
16 W ake Forest Magazine
latin
time management
getting to know professors & campus ministers
politics or religion
law school, politics
I intend over the next four
years to realize and fulfill
whatever God has yet ahead.
The challenge will not be easy,
but accepted. For I know that
through persistence and
perseverance, I will accomplish
anything, go anywhere and
become anyone.
the county hospital. His sister is in law school at N.C.
Central University. One brother is in the Air Force serving
in Pakistan, and his other brother recently left the Marines.
“I’m rooted in old-school philosophies,” he says. “I was
blessed with hard-working parents and raised in the church.
They’ve always impressed upon me the value of education.
They have taught me to seek wisdom and be around those
who are seeking wisdom.”
Mathis played football and basketball in high school, was
student body president and was active in
numerous clubs, in addition to being a
church organist. He plans to be active in
campus ministries at Wake Forest and
possibly Student Government, but he is
proceeding cautiously. “I was worried
that I was not going to find my niche
here, but God is beginning to reveal it to
me,” he said. His niche may not be in an
elected student office but in bringing
students of all races together to talk about
faith and spirituality. “When to do all the
things I want to do is going to be difficult.
I know I’ll have to learn to say no. At
this point, I feel that I need to stress academics
first.”
He is expecting that his strong beliefs will likely be challenged
during the next four years, but he isn’t worried. “I’m
very rooted in my Christian faith; college won’t change that.
However, I am open-minded, and when it comes to understanding
others’ views and opinions, I am able to learn. I
think that is the biggest misconception with my faith. My
faith is so strong that learning about others (faiths) doesn’t
create insecurity.”