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Before I joined Lookout Mountain Conservancy, I was doing nothing. Not like, “I was relaxing” kind of nothing. I mean nothing. Not working, not planning, not thinking about my future. Just passing time.

That was me up until around 10th grade. Then something clicked.

I remember sitting with that feeling, like everybody around me was moving and I was still. I’d see people get jobs, go to work, talk about college or making plans, and I started thinking: What am I doing? I didn’t want to be the same person a year from now. That’s when I told myself that it’s time something changed.

That’s also when my car broke down. Second car. I’d had it maybe five months, and it just gave out. Another unlucky moment, I guess. Stuff like that seemed to follow me, and I’d started to get used to things not going my way. But this time, I didn’t just sit in it. I started looking for another opportunity.

That’s when Jimmie, my friend since fifth grade, told me about LMC. I trusted him. We’d been cool since we were kids, neighbors, playing soccer outside. He’s one of those people you know is solid. He told me about the work, the people, and the chance to make some money. At first, that was all I was thinking about, just a second job. A check. But once I got here, I realized LMC was going to be way more than that.

I used to be real quiet. I kept to myself a lot. I never really talked much. Coming into a program where everyone already seemed to know each other made me nervous. But then I started realizing a lot of them I’d seen around school. Some I had even talked to before. And once we started working together, it got easier. One person would introduce me to someone else, and over time, it just happened. The more I talked, the more I felt part of the team. That was new for me.

Out here, I had to speak up more. Not just small talk- real communication. Learning skills. Asking questions. Giving instructions. Now that I’m working toward being a redshirt, leadership matters even more. I’ve had to step up. Be present. Be vocal. And weirdly enough, I’ve come to like it. It’s helped me not only out here but in life.

Before this program, I didn’t really go outside much. Nature wasn’t something I thought about. But once I started working on the trails, chopping wood, and being out in the fresh air every day, I started seeing the value in it. The peace of it. Even when I was tired, being outside helped clear my mind. And learning about conservation, like why protecting the land actually matters, made me care about the work even more. I’d never thought about how the health of the environment connects to everything: our food, our water, even our community. Now, it’s part of how I see the world.

The first few weeks were tough, though. I had two jobs at the same time, and it wore me out. It was my first time coming from one shift and jumping right into another. I was exhausted. But I stuck with it. And eventually, I adjusted. I figured out how to manage my time, take care of my body, and still show up ready to work. That taught me something about myself. That I don’t quit.

Some of the hardest parts were just learning new skills. I remember the first time I tried chopping wood. I had no idea what I was doing. It felt like I was swinging forever and getting nowhere. I couldn’t even hit the right angle. It was frustrating. But I kept trying, kept listening, and eventually, I got it. That’s kind of how everything here has been. Learn, struggle, try again, and then get it right.

And the best part? Now I get to teach other people the things I’ve learned. That’s the kind of leader I want to be. Not someone who talks just to hear himself, but someone who does, and helps others along the way. I always tell people out here, especially the younger ones or the new folks, “You got potential. You just gotta try.” Everyone’s got something in them. Sometimes they just need someone to say it out loud for them to believe it.

Watching Jimmy work is part of what motivated me. He’s one of the hardest workers I know. He makes you want to work even harder. So when I got the chance to step into that kind of role, to be someone others could look up to the same way, I took it.

This program also gave me the push to start thinking about college. Before LMC, college wasn’t even on my mind. But being surrounded by people who were planning for it, talking about their goals rubbed off on me. Now I want to study business. I want to create something of my own. I’m not sure what the business will be yet, but I know I want to build it. Make something that matters. And eventually, give back.

That’s a big thing for me- giving back. Especially to my mom.

She’s the reason I started taking life more seriously. I’ll never forget everything she did for me and my sisters growing up. I remember her getting toys out of the trash, walking all over the place just to make sure we had what we needed. She gave everything, and now it’s my turn to give something back. I will be able to take care of her one day. That’s what keeps me going.

Outside of work, I still go to the gym, and I DoorDash to make extra money. I stay busy. I’ve also started getting into stocks and drop shipping—just trying to learn, trying to build. I don’t want to rely on luck. I want to make my own way.

LMC gave me a sense of direction. A reason to work hard. A way to see my potential.

Working hard brings fun times too. I got to ice skate for the first time, holding onto the wall, trying not to fall. By the end, I let go a little. That’s kind of how this whole experience has been, starting off shaky, then getting the hang of it. Letting go of my old mindset. Trusting myself. Getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

If someone asked me, “Why should I join LMC? I don’t even like being outside,” I’d tell them: It’s not just about being outside. It’s about becoming better. As a person. In every way.

You come here thinking you’re just getting a job, but you leave with something else. Confidence. Skills. Real relationships. A new mindset. You start caring about things you didn’t even know mattered.

And once you feel that? You won’t want to go back to doing nothing.

-Jason