It’s funny how knowing one person can change your life. For example: the school play last year was an original adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, written by two teachers/directors, and two students. Set and lights were designed by a former student who lives in Washington state, and oh boy did he love his big, moving set pieces. Who was responsible for building this set? The set builder, Mr. Kim Mann. A man who is in part responsible for the future I choose to pursue.

There were four Stage Crew students who came after school every day and stayed until 9:30 at night to build the set from raw lumber, vinyl, and plywood, including myself. We came to crew and got right to work every day after school, under the direction of Mr. Kim Mann.

Mr. Mann, or Kim, as we called him, is the kind of guy you can just talk with for hours about life, making the monotonous task of painting walls something you might write home about. He could go for hours telling us about his many jobs, hobbies, odd experiences, and his current business, Theater on Main in Oconomowoc. He had so much life experience it’s unbelievable.
Working with Kim, one doesn’t feel like they’re being micromanaged by the director. He’s the kind of guy that sees you doing something one way and doesn’t give you flak for not doing it his way. If he sees you not working, he’ll say something like, “You need to take a break. Really, David, you need to learn to relax.” Other set builders don’t seem to understand; we kids are there because it’s fun, not because it’s a job. However, that is something he knew a great deal about.
Kim used to work as a construction worker and painter, and every client he’d worked for seemed to bring a new story to to table. He’d tell about a client he had who’d gotten a job as a welder, started making custom gates for mansions, and became a millionaire. Or maybe the guy who got a job at a polo club cleaning stables, eventually learned to play, and became a world champion polo player. Now that guy charges $150 an hour for polo lessons to people all around the world because he’s just that good. Kim knew a thing or two about life, and he was able to teach all of us that there are more than a couple of ways to make a living.
I once had a conversation with him about my plans for after high school. I told him I wanted to get into welding because the demand is high, it pays well, and I already have an elementary knowledge of it. He told me to go for it, and explained the story of the aforementioned mansion gate maker. I then mentioned that I’ve always loved flying. He told me if I really do love flying, I should go for that because I’ll never be happy being a welder when I want to be a pilot. Then, in his typical fashion, he told me about a guy he knew who’d become very successful being a pilot.
It’s funny how knowing one person can change your life. It’s even funnier how one conversation with that one person can change your life. After that day, the last day of set building before the show started, I decided that he’s right: I should go for it and become a pilot. That was a year ago. Nowadays, I’m enrolled at Fox Valley Technical College, going for an associate’s degree in aviation. I know that life is short, time is short, and you have to make the most of what you’ve got. Yes, that’s cliche, but the point is you always have a chance.
Working with Kim Mann is not only enjoyable, it makes you feel like you have the ability to make anything you want out of your life. Just because you never went to college, doesn’t mean you can’t be a millionaire. If you’re in your fifties and you want to start a theater, you can start a theater. All you need is the ambition and work ethic, and nothing can stand in your way. Even if something does, it might redirect your path to something better than your originally had planned.