My experiences on the baseball field have been a major part of shaping who I am today. I have played baseball since I was 5 years old, competing in travel teams and competitive leagues throughout my childhood. From a young age, I learned what it meant to commit to something long-term—showing up to practices, improving skills over time, and learning how to perform under pressure. Baseball became more than just a sport to me; it became a place where I learned discipline, teamwork, and resilience. One of the biggest lessons baseball taught me is how to handle failure. In baseball, even the best players fail more often than they succeed, and I had to learn how to stay confident after striking out or making mistakes in the field. That mindset helped me develop mental toughness that I still use today in school, work, and other areas of my life. It taught me that failure is not the end—it is part of improvement. I also learned a lot about teamwork and leadership. Being part of competitive teams taught me how to communicate, support teammates, and respect different roles on the field. I had coaches and teammates who pushed me to improve and hold myself accountable. Those relationships helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person. When COVID hit during my 8th grade year, everything changed. Seasons were canceled, travel was limited, and I was no longer able to continue playing baseball the way I had grown used to. That was a turning point for me, and I eventually shifted my focus toward golf. Even though I stopped playing competitive baseball at that time, the lessons I learned from it stayed with me. I still carry the competitive mindset and discipline it taught me, and I still have a “wicked” sidearm pitch that I never quite lost. Baseball also influenced my goals and character by teaching me how to stay dedicated to improvement in everything I do. Whether I am working on cars, attending Automotive Technology at Spokane Community College, playing golf, or supporting my family, I approach challenges with the same mindset I developed on the baseball field: work hard, stay focused, and keep improving no matter the setbacks. The people who influenced me most during my baseball years were my coaches and teammates. My coaches taught me discipline, accountability, and effort, while my teammates taught me the importance of encouragement and trust. Those relationships helped shape my values and showed me what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. Overall, baseball helped lay the foundation for who I am today. It taught me how to push through failure, stay committed to goals, and work with others toward success. Even though I no longer play competitively, the lessons I learned continue to guide my future plans and the way I approach life.

My name is Gage Blakesley, and I chose to pursue the automotive field because of a lifelong passion for anything with a motor and a strong interest in how things work. Since I was very young, I have been drawn to dirt bikes, cars, and mechanical systems. I started riding dirt bikes when I was 2 years old, and over time that interest naturally grew into learning how to fix and maintain them. That hands-on experience is what first sparked my curiosity about mechanics and eventually led me toward automotive technology as a career path. As I got older, my passion expanded beyond just riding and into repairing and rebuilding. I especially enjoy working on cars, with a strong interest in Audi vehicles. I like the process of diagnosing issues, taking things apart, and figuring out how to make them run better. I also enjoy photography and editing photos of cars, which allows me to combine creativity with my interest in vehicles. For me, automotive work is not just about fixing machines—it’s about problem-solving, precision, and taking pride in the final result. One of the biggest inspirations for me to stay focused on this path has been the challenges I’ve faced and the experiences I’ve lived through. Since I was 16, I have worked full time while also attending school and college courses. Balancing both has been difficult, but it has taught me discipline, time management, and perseverance. There were many times when I had to push through exhaustion and stress to keep up with my responsibilities, but I never lost sight of my goals. Despite these challenges, I have remained focused on building my skills and education in automotive technology. I am currently attending Spokane Community College, where I am working toward my associate degree in Automotive Technology. I am committed to continuing this path, gaining hands-on experience, and developing the skills needed to become a successful technician. This scholarship would help me achieve my goals!

My name is Gage Blakesley, and one of the most difficult challenges I have faced in my life is witnessing the impact of drug and alcohol addiction within my family. I have been closely affected by addiction through the loss of my cousin, Carson Blakesley, who passed away at 19 from fentanyl, and through watching my father struggle with addiction before becoming sober three years ago. These experiences have deeply shaped my understanding of how powerful and destructive addiction can be. Losing my cousin Carson was one of the most painful experiences of my life. We were very close, and I watched firsthand how substance use can gradually take control of a person’s life. His struggle began in eighth grade, and over time it escalated into something that ultimately took his life. That loss still affects me every day. It changed the way I view decisions, consequences, and the importance of support systems. It also made me realize how many families are impacted far beyond just the individual struggling with addiction. There was also a time in my own life where I began drinking at 16. I quickly realized how easy it is to let alcohol take over your priorities, passions, and direction in life. That experience was a turning point for me. It made me step back and understand how quickly substance use can shift your focus away from the things that matter most. It reinforced the importance of self-control, awareness, and making intentional choices about the path you want your life to take. At the same time, I have also seen the other side of addiction through my father’s recovery. Watching him work toward sobriety and rebuild his life has shown me that change is possible, even after difficult circumstances. It taught me that recovery requires strength, accountability, and support, and it gave me hope that people can overcome even the hardest struggles. Seeing both loss and recovery within my own family has given me a very real and balanced understanding of addiction and its effects. These experiences have motivated me to move forward with purpose and determination. I want to build a stable and meaningful future through education and hard work. I am currently attending Spokane Community College, where I am studying Automotive Technology. My goal is to complete my degree and develop strong technical skills that will allow me to succeed in a hands-on career, potentially as an automotive technician. I am also open to other service-oriented careers such as law enforcement or firefighting, where I can contribute to helping others and making a positive difference. Moving forward, I plan to use my experiences to guide my choices and impact others in a positive way. I want to be someone who encourages awareness about the dangers of addiction and supports prevention through honest conversations and example. I understand how quickly addiction can affect lives and families, and I want to use that understanding to help others avoid similar pain. Ultimately, these challenges have shaped my growth, resilience, and goals. They have taught me the value of perseverance, responsibility, and making intentional decisions about my future. My hope is to honor my cousin’s memory, support my family, and build a life that reflects strength, purpose, and positive impact.

My name is Gage Blakesley, and I chose to pursue the automotive field because of a lifelong passion for anything with a motor and a strong interest in how things work. Since I was very young, I have been drawn to dirt bikes, cars, and mechanical systems. I started riding dirt bikes when I was 2 years old, and over time that interest naturally grew into learning how to fix and maintain them. That hands-on experience is what first sparked my curiosity about mechanics and eventually led me toward automotive technology as a career path. As I got older, my passion expanded beyond just riding and into repairing and rebuilding. I especially enjoy working on cars, with a strong interest in Audi vehicles. I like the process of diagnosing issues, taking things apart, and figuring out how to make them run better. I also enjoy photography and editing photos of cars, which allows me to combine creativity with my interest in vehicles. For me, automotive work is not just about fixing machines—it’s about problem-solving, precision, and taking pride in the final result. One of the biggest inspirations for me to stay focused on this path has been the challenges I’ve faced and the experiences I’ve lived through. Since I was 16, I have worked full time while also attending school and college courses. Balancing both has been difficult, but it has taught me discipline, time management, and perseverance. There were many times when I had to push through exhaustion and stress to keep up with my responsibilities, but I never lost sight of my goals. I have also been deeply impacted by personal experiences involving addiction and loss within my family. Losing my cousin Carson to fentanyl when he was 19 and witnessing the effects of addiction on my father before his sobriety have shaped my perspective on life and responsibility. These experiences have strengthened my drive to build a stable, meaningful career and make positive choices for my future. They also remind me why hard work and direction are so important. I was also in a severe mountain biking accident at 15 where I had severe long term concussion effects and a broken collar bone. Despite that, I was still able to work through my memory issues and continue to excel in high school. Despite these challenges, I have remained focused on building my skills and education in automotive technology. I am currently attending Spokane Community College, where I am working toward my associate degree in Automotive Technology. I am committed to continuing this path, gaining hands-on experience, and developing the skills needed to become a successful technician. Ultimately, I am pursuing the automotive field because it aligns with my passions, strengths, and long-term goals. The challenges I have faced have not discouraged me—they have motivated me to work harder and stay committed to building a future I can be proud of.

My name is Gage Blakesley, and I am currently pursuing further education in Automotive Technology at Spokane Community College, where I am working toward earning my associate degree. I have been at SCC since my Junior year of high school. I knew that I didn't want to sit in meaningless classes, I wanted to start my career early. My long-term goal is to build a stable and meaningful career in a hands-on field that allows me to work with my passions, support myself financially, and continue learning throughout my life. I am strongly considering career paths as an Audi technician, police officer, or firefighter, all of which reflect my interest in service, responsibility, and technical skill. My primary focus right now is completing my education in automotive technology and gaining as much real-world experience as possible. I have been interested in vehicles and mechanics since I was very young, especially anything with a motor. I enjoy working on dirt bikes and cars, particularly Audi vehicles, and I spend a lot of time learning how to repair, maintain, and improve them. I also enjoy photography and editing car photos, which has helped me develop attention to detail and creativity alongside my technical skills. To achieve my goals, I am committed to finishing my associate degree while continuing to work and build experience in the automotive field. Since I was 16, I have worked full time while also attending school, which has taught me discipline, time management, and perseverance. Balancing work and education has not always been easy, but it has strengthened my ability to stay focused on long-term goals and push through challenges. In addition to my schooling, I am actively building hands-on experience by working on vehicles whenever I can. I plan to continue developing these skills through internships, entry-level automotive work, and any opportunities that allow me to grow as a technician. My goal is to become highly skilled in diagnostics and repair, particularly with Audi vehicles, while also keeping my future career options open in public service roles such as law enforcement or firefighting. Ultimately, my plan is to build a career that I can be proud of—one that allows me to work hard, stay engaged in hands-on work, and provide a stable future for myself and my family. I am committed to putting in the effort required to reach these goals, and I am determined to turn my education and experience into a meaningful and successful career path.

One of the hardest lessons I have learned in life is seeing how addiction can completely take over someone’s life and deeply affect the people around them. Although I do not have personal experience with DUIs directly, I have witnessed firsthand the destruction that substance abuse can cause through the loss of my cousin, Carson Blakesley, and through watching my father struggle with addiction before becoming sober three years ago. These experiences have shaped the way I view responsibility, decision-making, and the importance of preventing impaired driving. My cousin Carson passed away from fentanyl at only 19 years old. Before his death, he struggled with drugs and alcohol beginning in eighth grade. Carson and I were very close, and watching addiction slowly impact his life was heartbreaking. Losing him has left a permanent impact on me and my family. His death showed me how quickly poor choices involving substances can change or end lives forever. Addiction does not only hurt the person using drugs or alcohol—it affects parents, siblings, cousins, friends, and entire communities. The pain of losing Carson is something I still carry with me every day. I have also witnessed the effects of addiction through my dad, who has now been sober for three years. Seeing both the struggles before sobriety and the positive changes afterward taught me how powerful addiction can be, but also how recovery and accountability are possible. It showed me the importance of support systems, healthy choices, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage positive decisions. Driving under the influence is dangerous because it puts innocent people’s lives at risk. Choosing to drive impaired shows a lack of responsibility not only for yourself but for everyone else on the road. One bad decision can permanently affect families forever. Morally, people have a responsibility to protect others and make choices that do not endanger lives. From a technical viewpoint, there are many strategies that can help prevent DUIs. Rideshare apps, designated drivers, public transportation, and ignition interlock devices are all tools that help reduce impaired driving. Schools and communities can also continue educating young people about the dangers of alcohol and drug use before they begin driving. I believe prevention starts with honest conversations, education, and accountability. Because of what I have experienced, I want to do everything I can to make sure my future family and children never have to suffer through the pain addiction has caused in mine. Losing Carson changed the way I view life and responsibility, and it motivates me to make positive choices and encourage others to do the same.