Liam's Story: Building a Future in Carpentry

At just 17 years old, Liam Van Roon has already laid the foundation for a promising career in carpentry. As a graduate of the Pre-Employment Carpenter program at Northern Lakes College,  he has leveraged his early education into a full-time position with Biggs and Little Contracting. Now, with high school behind him and a clear path ahead, Liam is determined to earn his journeyperson certification before his mid-20s.

Growing up in a family of tradespeople, Liam always had a passion for using his skills to create something new. “All my family is in trades, and I’ve always liked making ideas come to life,” he says. “Carpentry seemed like a great way to do that. I could build houses, modify things the way I wanted to, and really understand how structures come together.”

His experience started early, working on small projects around the house. “I built chicken coops and garden boxes with my mom,” he says. “Nothing too big, but it got me interested.”

When Liam learned about the Dual Credit program at Northern Lakes College, he saw an opportunity to get a head start on his career while still earning high school credits. “A lot of people don’t realize it’s an option,” he reports. “But it’s great because you get knowledge from the College while working toward your high school diploma. It helped me finish the last credits I needed to graduate.”

Liam officially graduated high school early and is now working full-time as a carpenter. “I did the first semester at the College, and now I’m in the workforce full time. It’s been a smooth transition.”

His time at Northern Lakes College gave him a strong foundation, both in technical skills and in professional confidence. “I really liked the College experience,” Liam says. “The small class sizes and one-on-one instruction made it easier to learn. It was a great environment.”

Liam’s pre-employment training has proven invaluable on the job site and gave him an edge when applying for work. “Having the program on my resume made a huge difference,” he says. “It shows you’ve taken the initiative to learn the trade rather than coming in with no experience.”

Liam is already thinking about his next steps. “In ten years, I hope to be running my own contracting business,” he reports. “Maybe even teaching the trades one day, but that’s way down the line. I don’t think I could ever stop working, but as a retirement job, I’d consider it.”

He encourages other high school students to take advantage of the Dual Credit and Pre-Employment programs at Northern Lakes College. “I’d tell them to try it out and follow through. Even if you decide later that carpentry isn’t for you, you’ll always have that knowledge and experience to fall back on. It’s a win-win - you get high school credits and career training at the same time.”

From high school student to full-time carpenter, Liam has made the most of every opportunity. With determination and a strong work ethic, he is on track to achieve his journeyperson certification and, ultimately, his dream of running his own business.