In the halls of Momence Junior High School, you might catch a glimpse of Jacob Schoenbeck—tall, thoughtful, and carrying a sense of maturity beyond his years. At just 12 years old, Jacob’s perspective on life is deeply influenced by his family’s legacy of service, especially the role his older brother Brayden plays in the U.S. Army. But while Jacob is inspired by his brother’s military career, he’s also a young man forging his own unique path.

Jacob, a seventh-grader, has a good head on his shoulders— something that’s apparent as soon as you sit down to talk to him. He’s calm, witty, and deeply connected to his family. Born and raised in Momence, Jacob is the kind of kid who balances his love for baseball and basketball with a curiosity about coding and cooking. “I like coding a lot,” he says, “I’m really good at it.” He tells stories about projects in school where he added his own creative flair— like programming a band of instruments, including a drum-playing squirrel. “I’m really talented at coding,” he says with a smirk, a quiet but confident pride shining through.

That balance between creativity and discipline is part of what makes Jacob unique. His older brother Brayden, who joined the Army when Jacob was around nine or ten, is someone Jacob looks up to with admiration. “It makes me nervous sometimes,” Jacob admits, “but I’m proud that all my family members are serving and protecting.” Jacob is deeply connected to the idea of service, inspired by the heroes he sees around him—from military personnel to police officers and firefighters. “I want to serve too,” Jacob says, already imagining his own future in the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

It’s clear that Jacob’s pride in his brother is mixed with a determination to leave his own mark. “When I get older, I want to continue what he started,” he says. And while serving in the military is one of his dreams, Jacob has a few other passions up his sleeve, including becoming an artist and a chef. “I really love cooking,” he explains, listing off his favorite dishes to make, including homemade mac and cheese and a new method of frying hot dogs that he swears makes them taste even better. “People usually boil hot dogs, but if you cut them into slices and fry them, they taste a little crispier—and way better.”

Jacob is a practical dreamer, balancing the idea of military service with his love for the simple joys of life, like playing baseball and basketball with friends or spending time in the kitchen with his mom. He’s not just the kid who’s already thinking about what it means to serve his country—he’s also the kid who adds breadcrumbs to his mac and cheese for that perfect crunch or plays trombone in the school band, a skill he’s been honing since fifth grade.

For Jacob, life in Momence is about both looking up to the legacy of his family and appreciating the community that has shaped him. He and his sister are the first in their family to attend Momence schools from beginning to end, a fact that adds another layer of pride to their journey. “My brother Brayden went to three different schools before he finished high school,” Jacob explains, “but my sister and I have stayed in Momence.” The sense of community he feels is strong, and it’s one of the things that keeps him grounded as he moves through middle school and begins to dream about the future.

At just 12, Jacob already understands the honor and sacrifice that comes with military service, something that’s deeply ingrained in his family’s narrative. But he also knows that his path will be his own, shaped by the support of his family and the values they’ve instilled in him. Whether he ends up serving in the Army like his brother, pursuing his love of cooking, or adding more creative coding projects to his résumé, Jacob Schoenbeck is a young man to watch— one with a good heart, a sharp mind, and a vision for a meaningful life.

As Jacob looks ahead, his focus remains on staying true to himself while embracing the values of service and sacrifice that have been passed down to him. And while he may still be a young man in middle school, it’s clear that Jacob has already taken important steps toward a future that will make his family, his school, and his community proud.