Photo By 1st Lt. Anna Doo | Alanna Abeita, a student participating in Camp Triumph 2015, tackles her fear of...... read more read more
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Facing one’s greatest fears can be a daunting challenge for any adult, but for one 10-year-old, the fear of heights had her paralyzed atop a 60-foot tower. Secured with a climbing harness, belay man below, rappel master above, and more than 20 fellow campers cheering her on, Alanna Abeita attempted to step over the edge four times. Each time she tried for more than fifteen minutes to will her right foot to step off the pole onto the vertical wall. Each time she physically could not take that step.
Abeita, and more than 60 Isleta Pueblo students ages 10-14, were participating in one of four iterations of the annual Camp Triumph. According to the camp pamphlet, Camp Triumph lasts for four days and aims to support youth in developing a variety of skills that will help them resist the temptation of drug use as a life choice. The children receive classroom instruction and numerous opportunities for activity-based learning.
Sgt. 1st Class Wilbert Romero, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of a group of six New Mexico National Guardsmen, said the opportunity to impact the youth at this age is invaluable. In addition, the relationship-building that occurs between the numerous law enforcement agencies carries over into the day-to-day operations of each.
Romero said the agencies involved include New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, Isleta Pueblo Police Department, Navajo Nation Police, Department of Justice, and the New Mexico National Guard – all in collaboration with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coalition. He said, “It’s a win-win situation and it keeps that partnership alive. It is relationship building with the law enforcement agencies as well as the community based organizations whether it be faith-based organizations or community based.”
Bernalillo County Sheriff Department Deputy Richard Castillo echoed those sentiments, saying the focus of Camp Triumph is to bring the kids together and give them some enlightenment, something different than their everyday life. He said that they teach the children teamwork, self-respect, respecting others, discipline and challenging their fears. Castillo also said he felt the National Guardsmen are great role models for the youth to interact with.
Spc. Daniel Martinez, a civil operations team member with the New Mexico National Guard, is one of those role models. As he closely watched students scurry up and down a rock wall, he reflected on why he was participating. Martinez said the reason is, “Being able to mentor and influence the children in a positive manner.”
Spc. Brenda Reyes, also a civil operations team member, said this is her third year volunteering at the camp. She has seen numerous kids attend camps each year and even watched a few go on to enlisting into the New Mexico National Guard. Reyes said she believes the camp offers devoted attention to the kids and an awareness for them.
She said some of the participants open up to the Guardsmen and share drug awareness issues that may be occurring in their schools, thus giving her an opportunity to share that information with the appropriate agency personnel. Reyes added that seeing the kids conquer their fears and experiencing a feeling of accomplishment is greatly satisfying.
Abeita, who wants to be a pilot when she grows up, said that she is afraid of heights, but that the Guardsmen help you and are “cool.” After multiple attempts to step blindly backward off the rappel tower on Kirtland Air Force Base used to train elite Air Force Pararescue professionals, Abeita finally gave up. But then an idea by Maj. Gerald Torres, executive officer of New Mexico National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, would allow her to shimmy over the pole on her stomach setting a foot onto the wall without needing to sit back into nothingness. Abeita strode up to the edge, hunkered down, threw her right leg over the wall, then the left, sat back and bounded down the tower to the wild cheers of her colleagues.
Abeita not only conquered her own fear of heights, she did so with the help of an adult who was willing to find a way to guide her over the precipice. Camp Triumph 2015 was designed to offer all students across the four iterations the same guidance, self-reliance and confidence in the military and law enforcement adults who are available to help them scale whatever walls are in front of them.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2015 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 168657 |
| Location: | ISLETA PUEBLO, NM, US |
| Hometown: | ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 243 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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