Glenn Ohman, 22, grew up in Lake Bluff and took three years off between Lake Forest High School and starting at Lake Forest College, where he just starting his sophomore year.
Q. So many people from this area go directly from high school to college, with only a summer separating the two.
A. It’s really taboo not to go to college right after high school. It’s part of the mindset and culture here.
Q Why did you choose differently?
A. I think it’s kind of insane being 18 years old and saying I should spend a bizarre amount of money when it’s something I don’t know much about.
Q. What did you do between high school and college?
A. I worked at a guitar shop in the Humboldt Park neighborhood where I learned about woodworking and how you make a musical instrument or any fine woodworking. I also restored antique furniture for a year and a half or so.
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Q. How was that?
A. That was real interesting. You could see how things wear (down) a century or more after someone made it.
Q. Any other interesting aspects?
A. Using drill presses out of the 1940s. That’s where I kind of fell in love with old tools and old machines. I spent a lot of time drilling holes for horn speakers they built.
Q. Why did you decide you wanted to attend college?
A. It’s kind of like part of the culture here. I guess it was, I was in the work force a while. Let’s give (college) a go and see where it takes me.
Q. Now that you’re a college student, do you still do woodwork?
A. Right now I’ve been building instruments. I also made a bunch of picture frames for a friend’s paintings. I’m pretty much in the shop every day. Not being there is kind of like not breathing.
Twitter: @reporterdude
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