By Jerome Garcia
My name is Jerome Garcia, I am Dine’ (Navajo) and part Keresan (Acoma). My Diné clans are Tó’áhání(Near the Water), Tl’ááshchí’í (Red Bottom People), and my Maternal grandparents are Lók’aa’ Dine’é(Reed People). My Paternal Keresan side I am Usraatra (Little Sun). My parents are Monica Tsosie from Whitehorse Lake, and my father is Todd Garcia from Acoma pueblo. I am a junior currently attending Grants High School, a grade ahead of my original class of 2020.
I excel in academics due to taking AP English III and AP US History, receiving high test scores. I excel in athletics and have become a positive influence and leader to my teams. My goal after high school is to pursue a career in law enforcement and receive an associates in criminal justice. I intend on participating in multiple camps this upcoming summer such as: JOLT, CSVANW, and “Devil Pups.”
Thanks to CSVANW, this program has inspired me to become more active within my community and continue to strive for my future endeavors.
CSVANW has opened portals and internal opportunities for me to enhance my attributes to become a more powerful leader such as allowing me to become an independent speaker, critical thinker, and revealing a unique, influential, optimistic character. The Native Youth Summit has helped myself along with others to publicize a new personality far more superior than before. The Santa Fe Mountain Center offered numerous activities like crossing a three story tight rope and rock climbing to experience a collaboration of fear and excitement! I gained a deeper trust with my peers, far more cavernous than the San Andreas fault. It feels as if you are hovering above ground effortlessly, higher than the sun displaying a remarkable feeling of self-pride and trust!
The Native Youth Summit has the power to reach within an individual’s heart, compassion, trust, and love only to intensify that sense of appreciation
and self-worth. It can be a feeling of home away from home offering a respective, safe community only to not want it to conclude. It was an extraordinary program with astounding advisers.
My personal favorite section of this four day summit was being able to connect psychologically with people from a variety of different tribes in New Mexico to produce friendships and bonds among our Native youth. We exchanged view points and ideas and became one unbreakable bond between companions.
CSVANW indeed had an outstanding agenda that create productive bond between youth, adults, and create memories that will be cherished. With zero hesitation, I strongly recommend this program to anybody willing to make a favorable difference within their peers, their communities, and themselves.
Thank You.
