When Lukas Scholz gets his hands on an engine, something remarkable happens. Complex systems make sense. Mechanical puzzles find solutions. The junior at Momence High School sees beyond metal and machinery to the intricate dance of parts working in harmony—much like the classic rock riffs he's been coaxing from guitar strings since age five.

"I like working on cars and learning about new stuff," Lukas explains. "I like being hands on, so I figured auto mechanics would fit me best."

Each morning, Lukas boards a bus for the 20-minute ride to Bradley's Kankakee Area Career Center, where he spends 90 minutes immersed in automotive technology. This daily commitment represents more than just vocational training—it's the foundation for his future in diesel mechanics.

His path forward is already taking shape. With a summer job lined up at a local Peterbilt dealership once he turns 17, Lukas has his sights set on a career where his employer will fund his education. "When I get out of school, I'll make $45 an hour," he notes, outlining a practical route to financial stability that doesn't require the traditional college experience that leaves him "falling asleep when I read books."

This clarity about his strengths emerged organically through hands-on exploration. "My original goal was to be an engineer because I like designing, building, and fixing problems," he recalls. "But then I figured out auto mechanics, and I really like tearing stuff apart, repairing it."

At Momence High School, Lukas has found his stride in classes that engage his tactile intelligence—culinary arts during freshman year, welding in agriculture power technology as a sophomore, and now his automotive program. These experiences have transformed his academic performance.

"I went from being a C average student to being an A student this year," he says with quiet pride, crediting supportive teachers like Ms. Boros, his English instructor, along with friends, family, and his girlfriend who "push me a lot" and foster "the mindset that I can be better than what I previously was."

This growth didn't come easy. Behind Lukas's mechanical aptitude and musical talent lies a story of extraordinary resilience. "I have a cardiac condition," he explains matter-of-factly. "I've had four open heart surgeries. I had surgery last year and put a pacemaker defibrillator in."

Rather than letting these challenges define him, Lukas has incorporated them into his identity. "After dealing with it for so many years, it doesn't scare me anymore. It's just a part of my life and who I am no matter what," he reflects. "It used to give me depression, but I feel like I can understand it at a point where it doesn't make me sad so much."

This philosophy—accepting life's realities while continually moving forward—permeates his approach to everything. When he moved to Momence in seventh grade from much-larger Crete-Monee, he adapted. When he discovered that school band didn't align with his musical preferences for classic rock and metal (Police, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Queen), he pursued guitar independently.

The mindset extends to social relationships as well. "Certain people aren't gonna like you no matter what," Lukas observes. "It doesn't really matter if you like me or not. I'm just gonna keep doing my own thing and keep happy. I'm not here to please anyone. I'm not here to be someone I'm not. I'm just here to keep living."

In the soundtrack of Lukas Scholz's life, you'll find both the precision of diesel engines and the soaring solos of Eddie Van Halen—seemingly different worlds that share a fundamental appreciation for harmony, rhythm, and the beauty of systems working as intended.

As he looks ahead to becoming a diesel mechanic, learning Bohemian Rhapsody on guitar, or simply embracing whatever tomorrow brings, his philosophy remains constant: "Always gotta keep looking forward, keep moving forward." With a spirit as resilient as his, there's no doubt he will.