Bear Lake senior preparing for career in engineering, mechanics

MONTPELIER — Henry Reese is a senior at Bear Lake High School. He plays the drums in the school band and aspires to create a career in engineering.

With graduation fast approaching, Reese told EastIdahoNews.com his future plans have come down to two options. The first, he said, would be to attend Idaho State University and earn a degree in diesel mechanics. The other would be to join the U.S. Navy, like his father before him.

Reese said he has received an offer to join the Navy’s nuclear engineering program — an offer that comes with a $50,000 signing bonus and numerous post-service opportunities which have made it “very enticing.”

He has long been interesting in engineering — repairing and building things.

“Engineering’s always been there, in the back of my mind, and what I want to do when I get older,” he said.

He has had a chance to nurture that interest while helping at his father’s construction company.

When he isn’t building things — including area homes — Reese plays the drums. At home, he is a rocker. But he also plays in the school band.

Asked if drums is something he believes will also keep his interest, Reese said he believes so, adding he has played since the sixth grade.

“I’ll always play. I probably won’t do it for a career, but I’ll always have it as a hobby,” he said.

While he has yet to make a decision regarding where he will be heading after graduation, he is quite sure he will at least temporarily leave the comforts of his Bear Lake-area home.

He said he knows he will miss the vast recreational options the region offers — be it jet skiing at the lake, skiing the slopes or just enjoying the open land.