In the Wednesday morning shop class at 71Five VoTech – Grants Pass, six students, five boys and one girl began a simple yet profound journey. Their task? Build a wooden box. The challenge? Use only hand tools. At first, the idea of crafting something without power tools seemed slow, even frustrating. But `week by week, something changed. They discovered the rhythm of the work, the rasp of the saw, the steady tap of the chisel, the satisfying slice of the plane. The hand plane became their favorite. At first, they struggle digging too deep, shaving unevenly. But as they practiced, they found joy in the whisper-thin curls of wood that fell away, the smooth surfaces left behind, the way the tool seemed to hum in their hands when used just right. The box itself was never perfect. Each week, a new lesson emerged—how to square a corner, how to make joints fit snugly, how to sand by hand with patience. Each week, the box grew closer to completion but more than that, so did they. Through this project, they learned not just woodworking but perseverance. They encouraged each other when a saw cut strayed off course. It wasn’t about finishing the box quickly, it was about learning, growing, and taking pride in their craft. Somewhere between the first rough-cut boards and the final smoothing of the wood, something deeper took shape. Confidence. Teamwork. The realization that good things take time and effort.

Their box was more than just a project. It was proof of their journey—of lessons learned, patience tested, and skills honed. A wooden reminder that, like the box itself, they were shaping themselves into something strong, steady, and ready for whatever came next. Thank you for helping in that journey.