UC Graduate Shares His Energy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – As a child growing up in Ethiopia, Mekbul Jemal Tahir recalls fixing radios and tinkering with wires. He also grew up a dancer, a student of the Acogny technique of African contemporary dance.

After leaving home in search of more opportunities to perform and teach dance, Tahir eventually landed in Rhode Island. Later, when he began looking for another way to support himself and his family, he said he decided to turn his childhood curiosity about all things electrical into a career as an electrician. He began working on residential and commercial facilities for a developer and searching for an educational program that fit his needs. He found that with the Electrical Apprenticeship Program at Roger William University’s University College from which he is graduating this month. 

As he was completing the rigorous educational program, Tahir continued to work full time doing electrical work. He said he appreciated being able to apply the theory and knowledge about electrical codes from the classroom to his everyday work. Although he was surprised at first by how difficult some of the mathematical concepts were, his professors helped him through the challenges.

“Every teacher has their own style,” Tahir said. “I was able to ask them about electrical codes, and they were happy to respond. We talked about the field work and their experience.”

In addition to working as an electrician and raising two daughters, now ages 6 and 13, Tahir has taught dance throughout the four-year Electrical Apprenticeship Program. “It was tough, but it was doable,” he said of balancing work, school, and teaching dance, “and it went super fast.”

After graduation, Tahir will continue working and also study for his Rhode Island electrician’s license. He said he’s optimistic about the licensing test because his classes at RWU discussed many of the types of questions that will appear on the test. “The program actually helps you to be not nervous, [but] very, very confident,” he said. He speaks about one day owning his own business.

Currently, Tahir lives in Providence, R.I., and teaches adult dance classes at AS220, a local nonprofit community arts organization. He also teaches fifth graders at a school in New Bedford, Mass. “I love the kids because there’s so much to learn from them,” he said. “They move around, they create a lot, sometimes without even knowing it. … Their movements and everything in their work is very true because they don’t really think about it. They just move, and it’s beautiful to see that.”

On the other hand, his adult dance students often tell Tahir, “I’m not a dancer.”

“And I say, that’s not the point here. The point here is you have a lot of people around you, and it’s just about sharing energy,” he said. “Move however you want to move; it’s not trying to copy a movement and perfect it, no matter how long you’ve been in the classes. It’s about sharing energy within the class.”

As Tahir furthers his career with the literal energy of electrical circuits, he will also continue to share his own positive energy with those around him.

When asked what he would tell another student considering the RWU program, he said, “Be patient and go through it because there’s so much to learn and so much to gain from it. When you’re done with it, it really is very, very satisfying, because it’s like climbing a mountain. This is all about collecting all these hours and studying for certain hours to be able to take your state test. It takes patience and courage to keep going with it.”