Alec Lechlitner might be just 18, but he's already discovered his purpose in life.

"I want to be an occupational therapist and work with special-needs kids," the Ephrata High School senior says.

The reason Lechlitner is so sure of his goal in life is the result of his real-life, hands-on experience in the classroom. Each day, he spends three periods in a service learning program at Clay Elementary School, assisting an occupational therapist as she works with K-4 children at the school.

He has seen the thrill of a youngster who learns to make the letter "s" for the first time. He has watched as a special-needs child takes pride in writing his own name. And he has observed the techniques and "tricks" that are used to help special children do the ordinary things most other children take for granted.

"The person I work with does wonderful things for the kids, and I want to do that, too, someday," says Lechlitner, who plans to major in occupational therapy in college. He has been looking at Elizabethtown College and Alvernia University.

Through his work with the occupational therapist, he has learned how to determine which hand is dominant and how that can be used for simple daily tasks such as sorting objects and tying shoelaces. And he's also found that kids learn things better when they can sing, as in memorizing their ABCs.

That's a good thing for Lechlitner, who sings bass in Ephrata High School's choir and in the Camerata vocal ensemble. He has performed in many shows and choir groups over the years and admits he's inspired by the singer Michael Buble.

The talented teen also plays the trumpet, which he started as a fourth- grader. He plays in the high school's concert band, which performs a variety of marches, plus classical, jazz and Broadway music. His musical talents have served him well in high school productions such as "Cinderella," in which he played a page to the prince, and "Little Women," in which he played the grandfather.

Helping others runs in his family. His sister Ashley, 21, has been working with needy people in Niger on a missions trip.

His parents, David and Diane Lechlitner, are proud of their son's interest in making a difference for others.

As he approaches the second half of his senior year, Lechlitner has been working to save for college. He began working when he was just 15, and recently started a new job in the dairy department of Sharp Shopper.

An avid reader, Lechlitner lists the Tunnels series of books by Roderick Gordon as his favorites. He also likes C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

"I like mystery and adventure," says Lechlitner, an accomplished student who lists science and English among his top subjects and does well in just about everything.

A member of Ephrata Community Church, he is involved in the youth group doing service projects, such as raising money for needy families.

In 2010 he went to Jamaica on a youth mission trip to help build a house for a family there.

"It gives me satisfaction to see that I have helped someone, in whatever way I can," Lechlitner says.