Since participating in Starbridge’s Creating a Life After High School program, Jacob Weishaar has continued exploring his interests in construction, woodworking, and hands-on employment.
Jacob chose to remain in high school for two additional years to study trades. He is interested in pursuing fine carpentry and is gaining practical experience through an internship at Homesteads for Hope.
As a farmhand intern, Jacob helps with a range of tasks, from working in the store to completing maintenance projects around the farm. The variety seems to suit him—he jokingly calls himself a “Jacob of all trades.”
“I like the people there, and I like working outside,” he said. He hopes the internship could eventually lead to a permanent position.
Jacob also makes handcrafted wooden pens. His interest began after seeing pens made by other woodworkers and deciding it was something he wanted to learn. He used funds from Creating a Life After High School to take classes and build his skills.
He now sells his pens at local craft shows and community events, including the Corn Hill Arts Festival and events at Homesteads for Hope. He also takes occasional custom orders from friends and family. While he enjoys vending, he is careful to keep woodworking enjoyable rather than letting it become an obligation.
In addition to work, school, and woodworking, Jacob is involved in self-advocacy related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. His experiences have shown him how important strong support systems and accessible services can be.
Jacob describes Creating a Life After High School as a turning point that introduced him to new options and helped build his confidence.
“It was one of the most influential things in my life,” he said. “It changed the trajectory of my life.”
His advice to others thinking about their next steps is practical: “Find something and just keep doing it. Find what works.”
He also recognizes that plans can change. “What works now might not work forever, so you have to keep developing and adapting.”
For now, Jacob is continuing his exploration of his craft, working at Homesteads for Hope, and making pens whenever he can.
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