WOODBURY — “Brother” is not the first word that comes to mind when most people think of Nonnewaug senior Levi Johnson – “go-getter” is what pops into ag teacher Marisa Bedron’s mind.

Especially as he’s gotten to his senior year, he has adapted to most things thrown his way, from demolishing a fence for the ag production class to going above and beyond in his own ag mechanics class and helping the new freshmen with welding.

“He’s always done pretty well,” said Andrew Zielinski. “This year has been a little bit more telling of his patience with the projects, and this year’s been the most growth as far as taking time and paying attention to the details, compared to his sophomore and junior year.”

Zielinski has known Johnson since freshman year, when he started on the Woodbury FFA Timber Team, where they compete and practice timbersports, from pulp toss, log roll, bow saw, cross cut, and axe throwing.

As a sophomore, Johnson chose to take mechanics, which Zielinski teaches.

“Levi is one of my more trustworthy students,” said Zielinski. “I can give him pretty much whatever and he’ll do it.”

Johnson still makes the proper room for his own class projects beside the random projects that Zielinski has for him.

“He spent extra time outside of the classroom,” said Zielinski, “problem solving and troubleshooting some of the problems along the way [on his small engine project], so that definitely helped put him ahead a little bit.”

Kathleen Gorman, the ag production teacher, shares the same views as Zielinski.

“Him coming in and really taking on that foreman role, and I was being funny when I was like Levi is gonna be the foreman,” said Gorman. “But he really took on that role of, ‘What do you need done? What can I help you with? The weather is bad outside; here’s the plan.’ And he’s grown so much and him helping with the fence has showcased that.”

Gorman has gotten to see Johnson grow from freshman year to now from being his Chiefs advisor and his SAE teacher.

“I’ve seen so much growth in him from when he was a freshman he was that goofball that really would not take charge of a situation,” Gorman said. “If anything he’d find a way to throw a monkey wrench in the group’s plan.”

Johnson says his senior year is going really well.

“In my opinion, senior year is my best year out of my whole time at Nonnewaug,” said Johnson. “My classes are going really well; I’m excelling in all of them. For instance, in my financial math class I have a 91, my highest grade in any math class I’ve taken.”

Johnson goes out of his way to help his friends and family with whatever they need, according to friend Hannah Sanzone.

“Levi is always helpful and does anything we need help with,” said Sanzone. “For example, when we have to do waters and dump and fill buckets, once we’d fill them he’d help carry the buckets back to the stalls.”

And Mallory Johnson, his sister, is complimentary of her brother.

“Levi is interesting,” said Mallory. “He’s always in a silly mood. He’s very funny, always cracking jokes. He’s just someone you can rely on. Levi is pretty good with our siblings. Whenever my mother needs something he always tries to help.”

Levi is the third oldest brother of seven other siblings, which sounds like a lot to most people, including Levi.

“It’s a lot to deal with,” said Levi. “There’s so many of them. You’re always trying to see how everyone is doing, what they’re up to in life, and it’s hard to keep track of sometimes.”

Levi says there’s plenty of work that goes into caring for siblings.

“I have to factor in everyone else’s schedule and whatnot,” said Levi. “I have to babysit the younger siblings sometimes or drive them to doctor appointments, nail appointments, or all sorts of other things. Like if it’s Tuesday, I have to go to my mother’s, and if it’s a Friday night, I have to bring my sister to her boyfriend’s house. She asks me weekly.”

Aside from his family, he has his own dreams for his future.

“I want to have a lot of money and get rich by doing construction work, specifically working for O&G when I get out of high school,” Levi said. “I also really want to have a family, too.”