Growing up, my dad was always building and fixing things around the house. There was always something under construction, yet we never hired a plumber, electrician, or contractor—it was always my dad doing the work himself.
One of the most ambitious projects he took on happened when I was in high school. My family decided to turn our garage into an extension of the family room, which meant we needed a new garage. My dad, as always, took on the challenge himself. After considering the space and drawing up designs, he decided on a two-car detached garage in the backyard, with a pathway extending from the driveway around the side of the house.
That summer before my senior year, we got to work. Over the course of a year, my dad, my brother, and I dug trenches for the foundation, installed drainage, leveled everything, poured concrete for the footings and slab, framed the structure, set up the trusses and roof, and finished with siding, shingles, and the garage doors. Ten years later, that garage still stands strong with no issues.
Working on this project taught me a lot: how to use tools, the importance of leveling and drainage, and how to see a project through from start to finish. But the most valuable lesson I took away was that hard work and self-belief can take you far. Education is crucial—it opens your mind and exposes you to new perspectives—but it has its limits. What I learned from my dad is that there’s no task I can’t figure out. With determination, confidence, and a willingness to ask for help when needed, anything is possible.