For Galesburg High School senior Caleb Claeys, the path to the future has been built one skill, one lesson, and one relationship at a time. From his days at the now-demolished Gale School—where his grandmother once studied, too—to his current place in the Galesburg Area Vocational Center’s Building Trades Program, Caleb has grown up surrounded by reminders that hard work, resilience, and family matter.

The only child of a hands-on family, Caleb discovered early that working with tools and engines felt natural. His uncle first sparked a love of cars, and for two years Caleb immersed himself in the auto technology program. But he eventually realized he wanted to keep that passion as a hobby rather than a career. “I want to go home and be able to work on old cars and stuff,” he says. “Not do it because somebody told me to.” That decision freed him to pursue construction, which has become his true professional interest.

Now in Building Trades, Caleb is learning the full spectrum of construction—from foundations and framing to drywall, plumbing, and electrical. “They show us everything,” he explains. “Basically from the base of the house all the way up.” For him, it’s not just classroom work. It’s training for life. He envisions himself next year stepping into an apprenticeship or joining a union program, building skills that will pay off in both wages and independence.

Caleb’s influences stretch across generations. His grandfather, a roofer who retired from Dowers Roofing, left a lasting mark before passing away when Caleb was young. His great-uncle, despite two knee replacements, continues to mentor him. “He’s still showing me everything,” Caleb says with admiration. Without a father present in his life, those role models filled the gap, showing him the value of perseverance and craft. “I feel like I got a really hands-on family,” he says.

Athletics also shaped Caleb’s character. A left-handed pitcher for the Silver Streaks, he once dreamed of the big leagues. Though that dream shifted, baseball taught him resilience. He laughs recalling the first time he tried to pick off a runner at first base, only to send the ball flying over the baseman’s head. “It’s part of the role,” he shrugs. “You don’t stop trying.” That same mindset now fuels his approach to construction and business.

Indeed, Caleb doesn’t just think about working for others—he dreams of leading. Already running a lawn care and landscaping operation, he talks about trucks, trailers, and mowers as stepping stones toward a larger venture. Roofing, carpentry, commercial construction—he’s open to possibilities. What matters most is the drive. “I love just making money and working,” he admits candidly. “I’d love to have my own business, too. That’s something I’m big on.”

Caleb is quick to credit the people who support him at school as well. He points to Adam Seaney, director at the vocational center, and Mrs. Abel at the front desk. Both noticed his shift from auto to building trades and made sure he was included in opportunities, even arranging for him to join a field trip normally reserved for construction students. “They’ve been great, getting me connections,” he says. For Caleb, that network of encouragement is as important as the tools in his hands.

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Caleb doesn’t hesitate: “You can’t slack. You gotta actually put in the work and do it. Save up to reinvest into what you want to do. It’s okay to fail—it’s gonna happen—but you gotta keep going.” It’s advice born not from textbooks but from lived experience, family lessons, and the work of his own hands.

Caleb sees opportunity in Galesburg. “People sometimes talk down on it,” he says. “But there are so many opportunities—like high school—for some, it comes off with a bad rep, but it’s got plenty of opportunities. There’s work in this town. For the people who want to work, it’s here.”

From the pitcher’s mound to the workshop floor, Caleb Claeys embodies that ethic. He is part of a generation proving that the trades don’t just build structures. They build futures, families, and communities.