It starts with the fuel – and electrical, cooling, lubrication and exhaust – system. You see, Mason has a penchant and talent for repairing and maintaining vehicles, fourwheelers to be precise. He was introduced to the wonders and intricacies of engines at an early age by his father, who would enlist young Mason as a helper while he performed repairs and service on the family vehicles. Mason soaked it all in, and soon he was adept at the most complicated, intricate repairs. Contrary to what some might think, working on engines and machinery is not rough, bruteforce labor. Modern internal-combustion vehicles are becoming more and more high-tech, even small ones like four-wheelers. In order to get the best results, sometimes a light, deft touch is required. One might liken the manual skills needed to those of a surgeon.

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And that’s where the human nervous system enters the picture. At present, Mason services vehicles for enjoyment, and for the extra income it sometimes provides. But his ultimate aim is to take that money that he is now squirreling away and use it to fund his education, an education that will culminate with Mason becoming a neurosurgeon.

 

But, while some young adults might aspire to the medical profession because they imagine that being a doctor will allow them to live a lifestyle much better than most other professions might, Mason is not wired that way. He wants to become a surgeon purely “to help others out,” he states. “I’m not doing this for myself,” he continues. “I’m doing it so I’ll have enough money to take care of a lot of people.” Mason knows that, for better or worse, money makes the world go around. It can be used for less-than-honorable purposes, but can just as easily be used to promote good and help others. This is his goal, and he has already begun to work his plan. After he graduates from Meridian, he will continue working toward his doctorate, at a measured pace, with his eyes on the prize. Like a skilled mechanic, or a talented surgeon, he will take it step by step, not moving on to the next until he is ready. Beginning at Shawnee Community College for his basic prerequisites, he will then move on to SIU-Carbondale for undergraduate work, and finally to medical school, probably at a university in Florida.

 

It should be clear by this point that Mason is a hard worker, and this is born out by the fact that he is employed part-time by the school as a custodian. But in true Mason fashion, he does it as much or more because of his affection for the school and his coworkers than for the money. “I absolutely love it here,” he enthuses. “I just enjoy working with everybody here. They’re really fun to hang out with.” His enthusiasm for the Meridian community is evident when he earnestly adds, “It’s amazing here.”

 

Besides engines and neurons, Mason is also very involved in FFA. He wasn’t much interested at first, thinking that because he’s not really a ‘farm kid’, there would not be much for him in the organization. But a cousin convinced him that there was more to it than he thought, so he gave it a try, and is now happy he did. Along with his cousin, he credits FFA sponsor Erin Ruiz with showing him the light, noting that she is his favorite teacher. Under her sponsorship, the Meridian FFA program has developed into a diverse group whose members have largely not spent much, if any time on a farm. They participate because, at its heart, FFA is about acquiring and developing leadership skills that can benefit a person, no matter what career path they ultimately choose to pursue. Leadership skills that Mason plans to put to good use.

 

“I love helping others, and teaching others,” he states. “It helps build me up and them at the same time.” This idea of helping yourself in order to be able to help others, is the heart of Mason’s life philosophy. It’s a philosophy that will carry him far, not unlike a well-maintained four-wheeler.

 

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