The dream of transforming a childhood pastime into a professional pursuit is no fanciful illusion for Adam Wolshire, a University of Cincinnati student who has taken his love for Lego all the way to the headquarters in Billund, Denmark. As a participant in the university's cooperative education program, Wolshire spends his semesters immersed in a world where play and innovation intersect at one of the globe's most cherished toy manufacturers.
His mornings begin with the simplicity of a bike ride and the comfort of "varm chokolade," a nod to the Danish lifestyle he's embraced wholeheartedly. According to a University of Cincinnati report, Wolshire delves into his day with sketching sessions before collaborating with his peers in Lego’s Creative Play Lab, getting tactile with the bricks that have been a part of his life since the tender age of three.
Wolshire isn't just another intern, he's a Play Discovery Intern. This title underscores a culture where work is synonymous with play, reflecting the ethos derived from Lego's etymology "leg godt" – Danish for "play well." In the realm of Lego, to play is to create, to learn, to grow. It's a principle that echoes throughout their headquarters and one that UC's co-op program takes seriously, offering students like Wolshire the chance to earn while they learn in a dynamic environment.
While the narrative of a young aficionado seizing the opportunity to shape their future in the image of their earliest passions is not uncommon, there is a particular resonance when that journey leads to a company like Lego, which has built its empire not merely on toys, but on the foundations of imaginative thinking and educational play. It's in these spaces where Wolshire’s childhood memories blend seamlessly with his burgeoning career, his hands shaping the bright interlocking pieces as he steps into a future crafted by his own design.
