Most middle schoolers probably have other things on their minds besides building houses.
But Luke Thill, a 13-year-old from Dubuque, Iowa, is unlike any other middle schooler you’ve seen before.
This talented and proactive boy has crafted his very own little house — in his parent’s backyard.
The project cost him roughly $1,500 USD — and now Luke is living his dream in his little cottage.
Come on in and have a look at what it looks like inside.
I think it’s safe to say that Luke is not like many of his 13-year-old peers. In a time of iPads, smartphones, gadgets, and X-Boxes, this young man decided to keep himself busy in a different and more ‘old-fashioned’ way. As he explains on his YouTube channel, his desire to build a small house grew out of feeling bored last summer.
After some thorough research, Luke had a pretty good idea of how he was going to put his plan into action.
The Process
It took him about a year to get the money and materials he needed to build the house. Luke mowed lawns, started a fund-raiser online, and ran errands for anyone who needed help in the neighborhood to make money.
An electrician Luke was friends with helped him install the electricity in exchange for Luke cleaning his garage out, for instance.
Luke used about 75 percent recycled material, many of which were things left over from his grandma’s house. The front door of the house was a gift from an uncle’s friend.
The 89-square-foot house is 10 feet long and 5 1/2 feet wide, with electricity but no plumbing, so no water or bathroom… yet.
“I liked the minimalism,” he told The Des Moines Register. “And I wanted to have a house without a huge mortgage.”
Luke has made several video clips and posted them online, where he talks about his project as many have grown curious about the little house.
As you can imagine, Luke also received some help from his parents, both financially and with the building itself.
But dad Greg made sure that it would be Luke himself who would pay for most of his project and also build most of it himself.
“It was a chance for a kid to do something more than play video games or sports,” Greg told The Des Moines Register. “It teaches life lessons.”
Teenager’s Dream
The house is in many ways a teenager’s dream, an oasis where you can chill and hang out in. It has a microwave, a TV, and a loft with a bed.
There’s even a barbecue and flowers at the back.
Luke usually does his homework after school at his new house and some nights during the week he gets to sleep there.
Luke already has aspirations to build another house — one that’s a little bigger for when he starts college. He also hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams:
“I want to show kids it’s possible to build at this age,” he says in one of his videos.
You can really see how proud he is about his project below.
Luke’s story is a great example of what a child can achieve with a clear goal, a strong worth ethic, and support from home.
15 Pics That Prove Every Second With Your Loved Ones Is a Treasure to Keep
Reuniting with loved ones, helping those we care about, or a simple photoshoot with our kids and pets can make even a few minutes feel magical. All the better if we take photos of those moments. This way we can be reminded of them and ignite a warm spark inside of us, even if we feel down.
We at <strong>Bright Side have a soft spot for family and friends and we just can’t resist sharing our latest compilation of special moments that people shared on the internet.
1. “My son teaching his little sister how to walk from his wheelchair.”
2. “My husband rooting for our daughter is the energy I need this week.”
3. “Today we celebrated one year of beating a tumor. My wife made me a cake! Yea, my son is trying to steal it.”
4. “Surprised my friend by bringing him to a zoo where he got to pet his favorite animal, a sloth. His face says it all.”
5. “A ‘photoshoot’ my husband did while I was at work. If this doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.”
6. “6 months meets 96 years — my Nana held her first great-granddaughter for the first time ever today!”
7. “Family moment 30 years ago with my mom and grandpa.”
8. “It took me nearly 26 years to find my father and his family. This is my newborn daughter and my uncle (my father’s brother).”
9. “I met my father for the first time in my (now) 29 years. We decided to have a ‘1st birthday’ on my 29th birthday.”
10. “I was a donor to my sister’s girlfriend and I’m now a proud uncle to my donor child.”
11. “My 96-year-old great-grandma with my kids and I. So thankful she’s in our lives!”
12. “Our flight got canceled for my birthday trip, and I missed the fancy pedicure we had booked. My husband surprised me the next day.”
13. “Met my internet best friend of 7 years for the first time!”
14. “My friend giving the neighborhood kids a huge box of chalk.”
15. “My daughter and I vs My granddaughter and I”
Which one touched your heart the most? Do you have a story with your loved one that you would like to share?
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