When Joab arrived at Omaha Home for Boys at just 14, school was the last thing on his mind. He hadn’t earned a single credit his freshman year and admits his attitude toward learning was, in his words, “terrible.” With no one cheering him on, it was easy to give up.

That all changed when Joab enrolled at the OHB School, where small class sizes and big encouragement made all the difference. With only six to eight students in each classroom, Joab found the space and support he needed to rediscover his potential and rebuild his confidence.

“There’s a lot of support around here, a lot of people you can talk to and go to for help when you need it,” said Joab.

Once he realized everyone around him truly wanted him to succeed, Joab started leaning in, asking questions, and surprising even himself.

“Joab is really smart, and I don’t think he realized that,” shared Carla Andreessen, Senior Director of Education. “We really had to work hard to build his confidence.”

Once he found his footing, Joab took off. He set a goal to catch up on his missed credits and then leapt a full year ahead. Even a serious leg injury, surgery, and months of physical therapy couldn’t slow him down. Between study sessions and therapy appointments, Joab powered through tough subjects like World History with determination and humor.

And through it all, he had one motivation, one thing that kept pushing him forward, and that was his baby girl.

“I think everything Joab does, he does for his daughter,” said Carla. “He’s really thinking about his future, not just today, and the consequences of his choices.”

By the time graduation rolled around, Joab had not only earned his diploma six months early but also shattered a school record, earning 36 total credits, the most ever earned by an OHB School student.

Joab’s classmates and teachers quickly crowned him the G.O.A.T. (the Greatest of All Time), and he proudly embraced the title. In his graduation speech, he grinned and said, “When I go off into this next chapter in life, I want everyone to remember me for one thing and one thing only being the G.O.A.T.”

Today, Joab is a high-school graduate, working full time, and planning for college with hopes of becoming a nurse one day. He still greets everyone with that trademark smile that brightened the halls of the OHB School, a reminder that confidence, encouragement, and a positive attitude can turn even the toughest start into an incredible finish.