ARLINGTON — Sonny Blankenship, 18, is a senior at Weston High School, the alternative campus in Arlington. He grew up in Smokey Point and moved to Oso before high school. He is set to graduate in January and is the youngest of three children.
Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Answer: I’m a gym-goer. I go to the gym a lot. I actually compete in power lifting. My brother’s the state champion.
Q: Do you have any cool personal lifting records?
A: Nothing special, I just train to train. I’m not really big into ego.
Q: You were photographed by The Herald volunteering after the Oso mudslide. Can you talk about that?
A: I wasn’t home at the time (of the slide). I was with my grandparents. I couldn’t get home for three days … so when I did get home, I volunteered. We went out sifting through the stuff, looking for people, dead or alive, it didn’t matter. I knew it was the right thing to do.
Q: Did you get to do anything fun this past summer?
A: I spent most of my summer working, landscaping.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I’m moving to Arizona and I’ll join the Air Force there once I get comfortable. I plan to spend four to six years there.
Q: Why Arizona?
A: I have friends who live down there. That was a better option than putting a map on the dartboard and hoping for the best. That and I hate the rain.
Q: Have you thought about careers?
A: I’ve thrown a lot of ideas around. I like the idea of being a police officer, but it’s a stressful job. I like art. I do a lot of drawing and 3-D animation. I don’t know if I’d make a career out of it though.
Q: Do you have a favorite subject in school?
A: Does P.E. count? I love physical fitness. I wanted to be a personal trainer for a long time. That’s like my Plan C.
Q: What are your other hobbies?
A: I hang out with people I go to the gym with. I listen to music a lot, play video games, general teen stuff. Hiking’s kind of a big deal. I do a lot of that.
Q: Do you have some favorite memories from growing up around here?
A: There’s a lot … I loved splitting wood. I split a lot of wood. We have an old wood-burning stove. It’s one of those things that you remember the smell of an oak tree or a maple tree and you can tell the difference. I said I don’t like the rain but every once in awhile you remember when you just sat and looked out the window and it was coming down and you appreciated it from afar.
Q: What do you like to draw?
A: Everything. I was just drawing something for my teacher. He’s a “Star Wars” fan … I see a character from a movie or something I think that looks cool, I want to draw it.
Q: Are you looking forward to being done with high school?
A: I actually don’t mind school. I just don’t like getting up so early. I’m looking forward to getting a job where I don’t have to drag myself out of bed at 5:55 a.m.
Q: Do you have a favorite book?
A: Stephen King. Anything by Stephen King. “Dreamcatcher” is a good one.
Q: What are your classes right now?
A: 3-D animation, robotics, leadership, none of them are actually the mandatory credits. I don’t need any more math or science credits. I finished all my mandatory credits, and now I only have elective credits. That’s probably why I don’t mind going to school.
Q: What made you decide on the Air Force?
A: I’m really aggressive in everything I do. I’m a go-getter. I put my foot forward. I’m the first person to volunteer. I love the structure. I have three grandfathers — two grandfathers and a step-grandfather — and they all served. It helps define you as a man.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Colognes. Oddly enough, I collect colognes. I really enjoy the different smells.
Q: Do you have a favorite one?
A: “I mix it up. I’m a very firm fan of Lacoste.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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