By Early Walter, Class of 2026
This article is a part of a series of student stories of growth curated for the 2025 One Event. If you enjoy this story, please donate and tell us which student’s story inspired you to give.
My hands were pretty beat up after all the work, but I was happy. Seeing Tug—the little boy we built the swingset for—laughing and having fun on it made it all worth it. Tug has cerebral palsy, which makes it tough for him to use a regular swing. But not this one: this swing was made just for him.
I love working with people and being in the Foundry, One Stone’s makerspace. I've done lots of different projects in the Foundry, but this is the first one that has really impacted someone.
We started by meeting with Tug's mom. She was thrilled that we were building a swing set for her son. We asked her tons of questions about Tug—what he liked, what he needed, and anything else that could help us design the perfect swing for him. We also looked up designs online and consulted with his physical therapist and family to get their input. Once we had all the information, it was time to get to work!
Building things is something I’m really into. Our Foundry is packed with tools and supplies, so turning an idea into reality is an awesome feeling. For this project, I helped ideate how we were going to create the frame of the swingset. It had to be strong, safe, and easy for Tug to use. We also had a deadline that was coming up fast. We brainstormed and sketched out designs. It was great to see everyone contribute their ideas and make the project a true team effort.
One challenge was explaining how to use some tools effectively. Sometimes, it’s hard to make instructions clear and not intimidating for people with less experience. But despite this, everyone found ways to get involved. I’m proud of how we worked together to get things done.
We created two swing attachments: a platform swing and a bolster swing. I spent most of my time building the platform swing, making a sturdy base that Tug could crawl onto with ease. The design also needed to be safe, as Tug’s mom wanted him to be able to play all by himself. I also helped other students assemble the bolster swing that they had designed in order to meet our deadline.
Upholstering the swings was another fun part of the process. We made sure to choose a durable, weatherproof, and waterproof material. We also picked blue because it's Tugs' favorite color. We learned from his mom and therapist that he associates colors and sounds, and loves music, so we incorporated a couple bells for him to be able to use. It’s amazing how little details like that can make such a big difference. We put so much thought and care into every part of that swing set.
Seeing Tug laugh and swing made all the hours in the Foundry worth it. It’s incredible to know that something we created as high school students can bring joy to someone’s life.
This project wasn’t just about building a swing; it was about learning and growing. I gained more skills in woodworking and discovered opportunities I hadn’t thought about before. I also grew in areas like collaboration, leadership, and passion.
Most importantly, this project taught me how crucial it is to listen to the people you’re helping. By listening to Tug’s mom and his physical therapist, we truly understood how to meet his needs. The whole experience felt like a dream come true.
Being part of something that made such a positive impact was inspiring. I want to get involved in even more projects that utilize my skills to help others.
