Like a lot of high school students, J. J. Swinney didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. Growing up in the small town of Sahuarita, he and his friends had taken to partying for entertainment and weren’t invested in their education.

Then he met Chuck Gallagher, a teacher at Sahuarita High School, who convinced him to sign up for carpentry classes and participate in the Habitat for Humanity Tucson school build project.

Little did J. J. know then, but Mr. Gallagher and Habitat would permanently shape the course of his future.

Mr. Gallagher “was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” J. J. said. “He took us under his wing and taught us something useful.”

He added, jokingly, “I think he likes a challenge.”

Carpentry classes became something J. J. looked forward to every day because it was tangible and he enjoyed working with his hands. Seeing progress on the Habitat home was also motivation to attend class.

For years after graduation J.J. was employed as a professional homebuilder, framing over 100 homes for companies such as AmericaBuilt Communities and Johnson Manley. Almost three years ago, J. J. returned to work for Habitat for Humanity Tucson, serving in a leadership capacity and overseeing crews of volunteers building homes.

While holding down his full-time job with Habitat, J. J. attended the University of Phoenix, graduating in May 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is now pursuing his master’s in information technology.  In his free time he enjoys the company of his wife, Amber, and their 5-year-old daughter, Katelyn.

“The school build is very important,” J. J. added, reflecting back on his high school years. “Had I not been given that opportunity, I would have headed in a different direction—maybe a downward spiral.”