Norwich — When Micah Mlyniec was a kid and someone asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, he usually answered, “engineering,” because it sounded cool.

“Then in freshman year, I took an engineering class, and it really was cool,” the Norwich Free Academy senior said recently.

Mlyniec, 18, of Lisbon, son of Martin and Michelle Mlyniec, both teachers at Lisbon Central School, grew up in Hampton. The family moved to Lisbon when Micah was ready to enter middle school so he and his younger brother, Jonah, could go to NFA, their mother said. Jonah, is finishing his freshman year at NFA this spring.

Micah Mlyniec filled his schedule with Advanced Placement classes at NFA. This year, he has AP English literature, biology, a combined physics I and II – “my most difficult class,” he said, - and economics. For fun, he took a traditional photography class and loves it.

He will graduate in June with 31 college credits for the University of Connecticut, one of the finalist engineering colleges on his list. He hopes to become an aeronautical engineer.

Jeff Joyce, Mlyniec’s AP English teacher this year, described his student as having “a humongous brain,” able to absorb “humongous amounts of information,” process it and make sense of it. Joyce knows of Mlyniec’s passion for engineering but said he can see Mlyniec in any number of future careers.

“I can see him as an engineer,” Joyce said, “but also as a science fiction author, a lawyer or CEO of Amnesty International.”

Mlyniec’s high school resume doesn’t stop with academics. He competed in NFA cross country, swimming and outdoor track, which started in March.

Add to the mix a part-time job as a swimming instructor, Boy Scouts and volunteer work through his church, Hampton Congregational Church. One summer, a group from the church took a weeklong trip to North Carolina to help repair homes damaged by hurricanes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed Mlyniec’s volunteer work. But on Feb. 21 this year, Mlyniec went to a friend’s ice-coated pond to take a Plunge for Hunger, raising $200 for the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic. He is pleased that church activities are starting up again, but volunteer activities at Covenant still are limited.

This spring, Mlyniec is juggling more than just school, sports and volunteerism. Often on weekday afternoons, he will split time between track practice and his job as a swimming instructor at Bubbles to Butterfly Swim School in Occum. Mlyniec instructs children ranging in ages from about 3 to 13.

“He’s just a joy with the kids,” swim school owner Margee Charron said. “He’s always challenging them. They enjoy swimming with him.”

In the pool on May 9, Mlyniec asked 5-year-old Hartley Black of Columbia to stand on the edge of the pool and jump into the water as Mlyniec held his arms out invitingly. A few minutes later, Mlyniec picked up the boy from behind and tossed him a few feet forward into the pool. Hartley grinned with delight.

The boy’s mother, Noelle Black, credited Mlyniec for her son’s growing confidence in the water. Early in the lessons, Hartley was terrified to jump into the water and would break down in fits of crying.

“Micah’s great with the kids,” Noelle Black said. “He takes time to get to know the kids, know their little quirks.”

Edward Boyle, father of 5-year-old Joshua Boyle of Groton, said Mlyniec relates well to the children, asking them how their day went and getting to know them.

“He’s awesome,” Edward Boyle said. “He lets them play a little bit and keeps them learning.”

Mlyniec grew up in the Boy Scouts, Troop 93 in Hampton, starting with Cub Scouts. He stayed with the troop, and with Hampton Congregational Church, even after the family moved to Lisbon. He and his close friends in scouting all recently completed Eagle Scout projects. Mlyniec raised money and built tables for the pavilion outside Hampton Town Hall. He completed the project in the summer of 2020.

The timing of the project proved perfect, longtime scout leader Sam Gailey said. “That outdoor meeting space was a godsend for many, many organizations,” Gailey said.

Mlyniec’s parents said their son has been focused on engineering for several years, but they also hope he explores possible careers in his many other interests while in college, including politics and English. His father, Martin Mlyniec, said everything “clicked” for Micah in his junior year, that what he puts into schoolwork and other interests is what he will get out of them.

“It’s hard to believe we’re on the threshold of something new,” his mother, Michelle Mlyniec said. “But I’m really excited about the opportunities available to him. And to make sure he’s pursuing something that excites him.”

c.bessette@theday.com