For those who do not know me, I am Blake Winslow. I am a County boy. What does that mean? Well, I was born and raised in Aroostook County, in the Great State of Maine. There are endless blue skies, and trees everywhere. We are very rural but very kind.

First, I must tell you about me (a small synopsis, I swear!) in order to understand where I am coming from.

I grew up in humble beginnings, with a mom who was working multiple part-time jobs - plus college - plus raising me, she was incredibly busy. She did receive and use state assistance. We did live in public housing. From her, I learned strong professionalism and work ethic, as she worked for the City of Presque Isle as their Human Resources Director for quite a few years after her degree in Business Administration. She married my now father when I was about 6 or 7, and they got divorced when I was about 13. Through the difficult process of the divorce, and going though physical changes, I had a hard time connecting to my peers. I was not in a good place if you can imagine middle school, (which thorough my eyes is not the best time for anyone).

In middle school, because I had a hard time connecting with my peers, I did not have many friends. I did not get involved, and I did not care. In high school, I broke out my bubble a little more each year. Again, I was not active my Freshman and Sophomore years. In my Sophomore year, I became involved in Youth in Government (YiG), at he request of my US History teacher. I mean, I had an interest in politics so I was thinking "why not?"

I had a blast. So I returned to YiG for the rest of my high school career and became more confident in myself, as I learned how to find better commonalities with my peers, and make new friends. Not only did YiG help me gain that new found confidence (because I saw it was a great opportunity) it gave me purpose. "I want to help others!"

As a Winslow, I am raised to help others, but I never knew how I could. I didn't see myself as intelligent growing up, and I was a short, scrawny kid. I didn't think I had the intelligence nor the strength to help those in need. I was being bullied, but I could not help those being bullied. If I wanted to help a girl out, I was too nervous to talk to her. Do you catch my drift? I did not have any confidence in myself to get involved in anything.

Senior year was my turning point. By that time, I got done with YiG, and started to get involved with my community and my school. I contemplated running for class president but decided it wasn't in my interest. Who wants to plan reunions any? Those are a hassle.

I got involved in my class, and I was happy to see my peers recognize that.

Let's backtrack to my sophomore year... I got a call from a young candidate for the Maine State House at 15 years old asking me to get involved in his campaign (because he needed volunteers). I shouted with joy "YES!" As we end the conversation, I ran to my mother's room and said "I'm actually going to make a difference! *insert his name* called me to help him out on his first campaign!" She said, "I know, I gave his father your number." Boy, was I happy. It was also my first parade ever to participate in (where I'm not wearing that totally rad marching band uniform for school).

I see that as my launching point into politics.

Let's fast forward to Summer of 2014 to just after I graduated. I attended Dirigo Boys State as a first-year counselor, after being called at the last minute to do so! That was a blast. Soon after, I got a call about an interest in being an intern for the Maine Republican Party from one of their staff. I said, "Yeah, I am interested." "Awesome," he said. "So and so forwarded me your name and told me you're a great worker," He continued. "Glad to have you on board. You start Monday at 9 a.m."

You know who the guy was that forwarded my name? That candidate I met at 15 who then became a state representative. That solidified my activeness in our political process.

By then, my bubble was GONE. I was out and about, doing things for my community and being a leader. Currently, I serve as a leader of the Republican Party in my state and as president of my school's student government association. In order for me to get out there, I had to push myself. Because of my awkwardness, and struggle to connect with my peers, I had to search for commonalities that they will appreciate about me. My advice to my friends out there who are too nervous to get involved, I say push yourself out of your comfort zone. That is the only way you can grow as a person and become more confident in myself. Push yourself to desire the things you want in life. My desire is to go about how I was raised: to help people. My family is known across our small community for helping people. I am now known in my community as a helping hand. I work very hard every day, and I work with some of the best people on the planet in either politics, my professional life, or in my educational life. I would not trade it for anything. Getting out of my bubble was forcing myself to get out in the world is the best decision I made. I am happy, active, and I have embraced my faith, for I am active in my church as well. I love helping people, and that was because I left my comfort zone.