By Nate Fisher

Structural, electrical, software, combat; These are all areas of engineering where Michael Lang, a sophomore, says he sees future opportunity. Though different in their specialty and field, these areas share the same foundation of providing support systems. Lang, who says he might join the military after he’s done with school to be a “part of something larger,” demonstrates a close understanding of the importance of support, which will support this career choice well.

Lang enjoys playing video games when he’s not dabbling in his engineering dreams. One of his favorite games is Team Fortress 2, a multiplayer arena-based combat game where players are divided into teams and take on specialized roles in that team to defeat the other. The engineering class in TF2 is relatively weak in direct combat but excels in its supportive role. TF2 engineers build sentry guns to protect strategic positions for their teammates, “dispensers” that provide the team with additional health and ammunition, and teleporters that can instantly send friendlies across the map to ambush enemies in their territory.

Though Lang may play as another class when booting up Team Fortress 2, he has the heart of a TF2 engineer; He’s all about support. When asked what he’d do if he could wish anything into existence, he says, “First, I would most likely wish for money, but not in the way you’d think. I would use that money for good things. It would go toward bills. My mom would be my first focus; I’d help her out with some things.” He clarifies the money would go toward a good cause. When you’re supporting the lifeblood and energy of your family and community, you’ve got one up on providing virtual medical kits and ammunition to teammates on a Discord server. Both actions share the same core value.

Lang is most likely able to provide support because he’s learned about unconditional support from his parents. When he came out on social media a year ago, he was pleased with how his parents had his back in that vulnerable moment: “My parents have always been like that. They’re like, ‘I don’t care. You do what you like, you do what you love, I’ll love you no matter what. You’ll always be my son.’” He’s learned that when you invest support in those you love, those people go on to support others more effectively.

While he admits he’d enjoy living in a larger city someday, Lang says he feels rooted in the rural area he calls home. He explains, “I think living in a rural area, the countryside, that’s where you can sit back… There’s peace and quiet. It’s beautiful.” Peace and quiet are transferable energies and brands of support that we can offer to the family, teammates, and hometowns that hold us up, give us a spark, help us complete our tasks, and stand by us during intense moments of conflict.