Tanner Brittain: Building something new
They’ve built schools around the world, published books, conducted research and apprenticed in family businesses. This year’s incoming first-year class of 3,988 enrollees at UNC, coming from as far away as Singapore and as close to home as Chapel Hill, features scientists, artists, champion athletes – and the recipient of a Purple Heart.
Tanner Brittain is coming to Carolina to make up his mind.
First-year student Tanner Brittain has been an apprentice at his family’s Brittain Construction Company, on the roof in the hot sun and in the office learning tax codes.
He knows he wants to build something new, create something useful and better the lives of those around him in the process. Exactly what that is, though, he’s not so sure.
That’s why he picked UNC-Chapel Hill. Brittain is part of the Undergraduate Assured Admission Program administered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Kenan-Flagler Business School, which offers a select group of first-year students assured admission to the undergraduate business major at Carolina.
“I wanted to be at Carolina because it’s an excellent place for me to grow and share my ideas and to be exposed to all sorts of different cultures and opportunities,” saidthe incoming first-year student from Connelly Springs, N.C. “I don’t have it all figured out, and I’m not sure where my niche is going to be, so I’m keeping an open mind.”
One thing is certain: whatever this first-generation college student decides to do, he’ll use the lessons learned at his father’s right hand to get there. For years, he’s been an apprentice at Brittain Construction Company, on the roof in the hot sun and in the office learning tax codes. His father has shown him that when you own a business, there’s no part you don’t do.
The most important lesson his father has taught him is how to give back. Brittain has balanced his school and extracurricular activities with fundraising for a local women’s shelter and serving as a peer tutor for the North Carolina Virtual Public School program.
“As a business owner in a small town, my dad is very involved in the community and makes a difference where he can. I’ve learned from him about work ethic, perseverance, responsibility and that you have to want to succeed.”
These lessons guided Brittain through the challenge of reviving a defunct chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at his school, Jimmy C. Draughn High School, where he knew membership in the organization would benefit aspiring business students like himself who needed career experience.
It came in fits andstarts, but Brittain didn’t give up on the club. By his senior year the FBLA chapter was fully functional, with 17 members and Brittain as the president.
At the club’s regional conference last year, Brittain took home first place in business calculations and finance competitions. At the subsequent statewide conference, Brittain’s team took first place in entrepreneurship.
“I like a good challenge, but what we were able to accomplish that first year was really amazing,” he said.
Out of more than 100 teams, Brittain’s team placed eighth in the national entrepreneurship competition.
“The thing about entrepreneurship is that there’s rarely a right or wrong answer to what you should do, but if you use the proper logic and evaluate the circumstances, you can figure out how to adapt to the situation and solve the problem,” he said. “You just have to know how to look at things.”
Knowing how to look at things is a perspective that Brittain applies inside and outside of the classroom.
“Sometimes people think of business and see greed. The way I see it, you can be selfish, or you can do a lot of good,” said Brittain. “My parents instilled values that make me want pay back all of the opportunities I have been given. Wherever I find myself, I want to employ people locally and make a difference in someone’s life.”
Brittain will bring his open mind toFall Fest this weekend so he can start to think about how he’d like to be involved in his new community. At Carolina, he’d like to find a ministry group and other volunteer organizations where he can help out just like he did back home.
“It’s important to use the talents and skills I’ve been given to help other people because so many people have done the same for me,” he said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you should use your skills for the greatest good possible.”
