Paralegal major excels as a painter
Freddie Dillard is enrolled in the Paralegal program at Inver Hills Community College. Freddie is hoping in the future to transfer to a four-year university and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Freddie’s long-range academic goals include earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) at possibly the University of St. Thomas or Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He would like to become a civil rights attorney.
“I enjoy studying the theory of law,” Freddie said. “I like that the law leaves room for discretion.”
Originally from Minneapolis, Freddie attended North Community High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976–1977 as a logistics operator. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California. Following his service, Freddie earned recognition as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). He also apprenticed at The Detroit News, obtaining certification in offset printing. Freddie earned his G.E.D. in 1982.
Freddie and his art…
Freddie is an accomplished painter who enjoys working in a range of media, including oil, acrylic, watercolors and pastels. He also likes to draw and create sculpture pieces.
“Inver allows me to work on my craft,” he said. “The college has a diverse culture and serves as an asylum for my freedom of expression.”
Freddie added that he likes to explore motion in his paintings using color. He also views painting as a process of continuous learning. He is just starting to use watercolors and is excited about completing more works in that medium.
Freddie Dillard painting gallery
More about Freddie…
Freddie comes from a big family. He is the oldest of 13 children and has nine brothers and three sisters. He has two adult children, Tamber Nicole, a registered nurse, and Chaka, an automotive sales representative. Freddie has a 2-year-old Cane Corso, an Italian breed popular as a companion and guard dog in Italy.
“Blue weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds,” Freddie said. “He’s the first pet I’ve owned and I really enjoy him. He sometimes reminds me the Rottweilers in that movie, The Omen.”
Freddie recently worked jobs in the construction industry. In his free time, he enjoys going for walks around Lake Calhoun. He also enjoys landscape and human photography, the latter by showing people in action. Freddie resides with Blue in Minneapolis.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating legal facts or preparing legal documents.
WAGE
This career above the statewide median wage of $20.07/hour
Minnesota
Median: $26.32/hour
High: $33.50/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro area
Median: $27.08/hour
High: $34.35/hourOUTLOOK
This career is currently seeing very high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate is 13.3 percent, or well above the statewide average.
There will be a need for about 5,885 new Paralegals and Legal Assistants to meet market demand between 2016–2026. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
Freddie Dillard • Q & A
What is one thing every artist should know?
Art is not competitive.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
I love painting because I want to push myself as far as I can go.
What do you like best about studying art?
Studying art allows me to express myself. Art also gives me the capacity think of new ways to challenge my limits.
What is the most challenging aspect of creating art at the college level?
If things become too structured, that will take away your creativity.
Three words that describe you as an artist:
CREATIVE. COLLECTIVE. LEARNING.
Out of all the works of art you’ve created, what is your favorite?
The Persecution
Who is your favorite artist?
Rembrandt or Vermeer. I like how they use light and dark in their paintings.
What is your greatest strength as an artist?
I am fearless. I will tackle anything without having doubts that I won’t be able to do it. I don’t think a painter should be afraid of throwing out a painting if it doesn’t turn out.
One of Freddie’s guiding quotes:
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
— President John F. Kennedy
Freddie Dillard • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Basketball
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Place you would most like to visit: Senegal - The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Traveled to South Korea in 2017
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Invest in real estate to provide my children with revenue 2) Help senior citizens stay in their homes and live in domains that are their own 3) Travel the world and educate myself; attend schools outside the U.S.
- Favorite TV show: Boston Legal
- Best movie you’ve seen lately: The Great Debaters
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Earn my J.D.
Your national bird if you were your own country: African grey parrot
- Dream occupation: Civil rights advocate
- Person you would most like to meet: Barack Obama
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Painting
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Interpersonal communication
Learn more about the Paralegal program by contacting:
Sally Dahlquist, JD
Paralegal Program Director
651-450-3567
Learn more about the A.F.A. in Art at Inver Hills by contacting:
Rob Kolomyski
Painting and Drawing Faculty
651-450-3256
