My building journey started at age 8, installing door handles on a flip house my parents were building. Growing up around construction made working with wood feel normal to me. Since then I've learned welding and fiber arts at Scout summer camp and coding in my high school classes. When I already know what I want, I just start building. When a project really matters, like my Eagle Scout project, I sketch it out, look up the material costs, and make sure I have everything before I start. Some of my favorite builds are the practical ones, like the ramp I made so our dogs could get from the deck down to the yard.
How It Started
My dad showed me how to install the first door handle on that flip house. After that, I did the rest of the house myself with a screwdriver, and when I was done, he checked my work. It was all good. My dad has taught me more about building than anyone, and he always treated me to something after we finished a job.
The first project I was really proud of was a whole kitchen of cabinets. I built every one of them myself in one day. I didn't install them into the walls, but once they were in and the countertops were on, it looked amazing.
Finding My Disciplines
Woodworking came naturally from growing up around construction, but my other skills came from different places. I learned to weld at Scout summer camp while earning my Welding merit badge. It was my first time welding. I started with the basics and ended up making a hammer, and it turned out to be the most fun of anything I've tried. At my last summer camp, I tried basketry and wove a couple of baskets. In my first high school coding class, the project I remember most was building my own website. On the mechanical side, I've helped my dad change the brakes on his truck, and I've done a lot of work on my own bike.
What Scouting Taught Me
Scouting has shaped how I approach building. My Eagle Scout project is a lean-to that will cover a couple of trailers at Elks Lodge No. 735. It's in progress, and build day is a few weeks away. Before anyone picks up a tool, I've already planned out every person's job so everybody knows what they're doing. In my troop, I've served as Instructor for multiple terms. On campouts, I've built shelters out of just rope and sticks, and they held up and did their job.
Where I'm Headed
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