BEMIDJI-Sequoia Headbird wants to work with his hands.
The soon-to-be Voyageurs Expeditionary حلحلآ» grad said he'll probably take a "gap year" before heading to a trade school, where he hopes to learn about HVAC before maybe branching out into electrical work.
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"I like doing a lot of hands-on work. It's why I am attending a project-based learning school, because I'm hands-on," Headbird said. "HVAC, overall trade jobs, need more people in them in these upcoming days, and I'm interested. I'd like to be able to one day learn all the trades so I can have a house and know how to fix it myself."
Headbird helps out around Voyageurs and is known for putting in more volunteer hours than the school asks of its students. He's also active in it's Dungeons and Dragons club.
The 18-year-old tried more traditional, paper-shuffling schools for a while but they didn't stick. He ended up at the Bemidji-area charter because it got him out and about more, he said, and into nature-trimming trees, canoeing and more.
"I also kinda picked up from my mom," Headbird said. "She's been carpentry, weatherization, mechanical. Anything and everything you can name, she's probably worked it. I saw her doing a lot of hands-on stuff, and one day I followed her out to the garage and I kinda started learning I liked hands-on learning."
Before heading to college-he's considering a school in Wadena-Headbird, who's from Cass Lake, said he might see if he can get an acre or two of land via the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
He's also kicking around longer-term ideas like moving to rural Canada or traveling.
"If you're not following your interest in life, you're not gonna enjoy anything you're doing," Headbird said. "It's gonna make an impact."
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If you go
What: Voyageurs Expeditionary حلحلآ» graduation
When: 6 p.m. Friday, June 1
Where: Bemidji State University's Hagg-Sauer Hall, Room 100.
