Just when I thought my love for Carolina basketball couldn’t grow any stronger, Logan proved me wrong. During his senior year, when it came time to start applying to colleges, Logan was torn between two schools, one of those being UNC. As decision time drew closer, he still was lacking direction on where to go, but that all changed when he learned that he had been offered a position to work directly with the Carolina basketball team. This was the turning point and the deciding factor for Logan to come to UNC, and all I have to say is great job Roy, you got a good one.
It’s ultimately through his position as a manager that I met Logan, as one of my best friends works alongside him on the manager staff. Logan and I started off this school year barely knowing each other, and after only a few short weeks, I can honestly say he is one of the people I respect most on this campus. When I started this blog, he was one of the first people to read the entire thing and reach out to me to let me know what he thought, and although it was a small act of kindness, it was a big deal to me. This is typical of Logan though; he goes above and beyond to appreciate the people in his life and is what I would describe to be a people’s person. He told me that the quality he likes most about himself is his ability to befriend others. Social connections come easy to him, and you can see this through his wide variety of friendships across this campus. Growing up, he went to a diverse high-school and was involved in a lot of different sports, and through this, he learned how to get to know, love and respect every type of person out there.
Logan’s ability to find friends in unlikely places is a physical embodiment of his faith. When I asked him about the things that inspire him, he immediately responded with a quote that reads, “Jesus often uses our blind spots to reveal himself to us.” This quote pops up as a reminder on his phone every day, and he actively chooses to live through this sentiment. When he first told it to me, I needed some explaining, but when he broke it down, it made total sense. To Logan, this quote is a reminder to seek out opportunities in places you would never think to venture. This world is filled with people who don’t look like you, think like you or act like you, and this is a blessing from God, because each person presents a new opportunity to learn, grow and love. Logan told me, “People have so much to offer. At the end of the day, the things we learn in our life come from our relationships with others.” Before this conversation, I had no idea that Logan was religious, and I really loved seeing how to him, faith in God is on an experiential basis. He sees God in the beauty, differences and people around him, and reminds himself every day to find joy in the little things, even if they seem unexpected.
The thing that stands out the most to me about Logan is his outpouring of love for his family. It became so clear that to Logan, family is everything, and I broke out in a huge smile listening to the way he talks about the people most important to him. To Logan, success is so much more than material gain; it’s family that matters most. One family member in particular has played a special role in his life, and that is his Uncle Rick. From what I can tell, Uncle Rick is a pretty incredible guy. Both of Logan’s grandfathers passed away before he had the chance to know them, and Uncle Rick, being a good bit older than his parents, in a way stepped into the role of grandfather for Logan. He has played a huge role in his community, from being the assistant fire chief and the owner of his own mechanic shop, and is what Logan described to me as being “tough as nails”. When his uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, his strength became even more evident. He battled bravely and eventually beat it, but in the process lost some of the nerves in his arms and hands. Being able to do hands on work was a huge part of Rick’s identity, and Logan said that seeing him lose this was devastating, but he remained positive throughout it all. Logan told me that Uncle Rick has had the single greatest impact on his life, and he strives to be more like him every day. Hearing the way Logan talks about his family with such love and admiration is so refreshing. Relationships come first to him above all else, and although I have never met his Uncle Rick, I feel safe in saying that he is incredibly proud of the man he helped shape.
Although my friendship with Logan is relatively new, I have learned a whole lot from him. He has reminded me to put energy into forming new relationships and to take the time to tell your family how much they really mean. So, with that, next time you’re at the Dean Dome, look for Logan down low, and remind yourself to actively seek joy, even in the blind spots.
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