Hey everyone! My name is Jaxson Gage, and I’ll be one of the Story Gathering Interns for the summer of 2026. I am from Owensboro, Kentucky, and I’m studying Sport Communication at the University of Kentucky. I’m beyond excited for the summer ahead of me, and I know that all of the ASP staff, volunteers, and homeowners will make it one of the best experiences of my life so far.
I’m quite a big fan of icebreakers, because who doesn’t like talking about themselves? I’m a huge fan of cars and trucks, sports, and music. I also love geography, exploring Google Earth until an unhealthy hour of the night. During the school year, I work for the SEC Network as a broadcast camera operator. I also spend my weekdays working with Kentucky Sports Turf, the grounds crew of UK Athletics. My dad raised me to learn how to do things myself, so I love to fix things, especially cars. The only negative takeaways from ASP so far have been the amount of red and orange college uniforms I’ve seen, and how excited the porch was to sing Rocky Top.
I had never heard of ASP before April of this year, so it was a scary experience for me to drive 6 hours to Jonesville with no concrete expectations. One of the scariest things about coming to Jonesville was hoping the upper control arms and wheel hubs I replaced on my truck the day before I left survived the trip. I was nervous about where I was going, who I would be meeting, and what I would be doing. However, the moment I stepped onto the Jonesville campus, I felt a sense of connection. I truly believe that this experience was not meant to just be a resume building internship, but a major step in the journey of uncovering who I am now, and all of the things that God has in store for me.
I chose to spend my summer with ASP for a variety of reasons. Being from western Kentucky, I feel connected, but distanced from the lives of the people in Appalachia. I’ve always felt an obligation to help those who may struggle from systematic neglect. My entire life, I’ve always looked for the good in people, especially people who weren’t born into the higher rungs of the societal ladder. There are plenty of organizations that help individuals who belong to these communities. ASP doesn’t fit in with the rest. ASP focuses on uplifting their homeowners and exemplifies the concept of “loving your neighbor”, without an exploitative approach.
So far on the porch, I’ve felt welcome and invited no matter where I go. I’m not someone who likes to introduce myself, and I prefer to stay quiet unless spoken to. ASP has shown me people whom I see as the exact opposite of myself. People who join beside me when I’m sitting alone. People who call me by my name and ask me how I’m doing. People who yell at me from across the porch, asking me if I want to play some church camp game I’ve never heard of. People who sit down next to me in the dining hall after lights out, talking about music, aspirations, and life in general. People who, I’m sure, were just like me when they first stepped onto the porch.
Over the next several weeks, I plan to explore and experience Central Appalachia, capturing the beauty of her rolling mountains and the people who live in the valleys and hollers between. I hope to make lasting connections with the people around me, and the people I’ve yet to meet. Most importantly, I hope to further strengthen the connection with the One who raised these mountains around us, one step at a time, frame by frame.
See you next time,
Jaxson Gage
Story Gathering Intern
