Reaching for the Skies

By Michael Wells, Reporter

After three years at Mehlville, early graduate Devin Gates made the decision to serve his country in the United States Air Force beginning with basic training May 17.

During his time at Mehlville, Gates was active in many sports such as football, golf and wrestling for all three years. He also held positions on the debate team and was the sophomore class president for the 2009–2010 school year. After graduating early with a 3.72 grade point average, Gates made the decision to enter the military.

“The specific job I wanted in the Air Force is very exclusive and I felt it was appropriate in this case to graduate early. I still get to walk with my friends and peers at graduation and it only had a positive outcome,” Gates said. “I chose the Air Force branch of the military because not only of the doors it opens for secondary education but how it looks on resumes and all the opportunities it allows for the future."

Leaving a history of successes behind at Mehlville, Gates hopes to attend a nationally-accredited university within the Air Force, paying his tuition in full and beginning his career as an airborne cryptologic linguist, a military position primarily responsible for detecting foreign military equipment and determining whether or not it poses some threat. If a threatening situation were to arise, it would be Gate’s position to intercept and deactivate the device.

Although high school is now behind him, Gates has left a proverbial legacy of achievements stemming from sports all the way to student council offices.  Through his many endeavors, Gates has become one of Mehlville’s most well-known names.

“He wasn’t only a great football player, but an amazing wrestler as well. Devin was always one to keep morale up and was just one of the most likeable guys you could play a sport with,” senior Logan Schoen said. “He was just entirely hard-working and enabled everyone else on any team he was a part of to give 110 percent just like him.”

Though he has decided to start his career earlier than most students expect to, Gates has his sight set to dedicate his life to the military.

“If I had the opportunity to go back to Mehlville for those last three or four months, I wouldn’t take it. This is what I really want to do and it was wiser to get an earlier start,” Gates said. “Of course I still have the desire to attend a four-year college. Thankfully I directly have that option available through the Air Force, which is one of my main reasons for choosing this unique branch.”

As he dives head first into not only his future career but also the adult years of his life, Gates said he is proud of what he has accomplished, and excited and focused to grow and learn even more.