Bobbi Sanchez epitomizes Youth ChalleNGe's mission
Cadet Bobbi Sanchez
20 Years of Age
Single Mother/College Student
Las Cruces, NM
I read through the success stories on the web page and was so proud of these young people! I also read the parent testimonials and although I work with kids everyday and am constantly amazed, the testimonials still almost had me in tears. So I began thinking of my past cadets and couldn't help to recognize the one who stands out most in my mind, Ms. Bobbi Sanchez.
Bobbi Sanchez epitomizes Youth ChalleNGe's mission. I was one of her female SSG's during her stay here in the New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe Academy fourth cycle. She graduated in 2003. During her fourth week at the academy Cadet Sanchez learned that she was pregnant. We discussed with her what her options were and she never entertained the idea of quitting the program. She understood that this program was the opportunity she needed now more than ever in order to ensure a brighter future for herself and, more importantly, for the child on the way. Being that we had never experienced this situation at the Academy we tried to profile her and give her light duty, but she refused to do any less than her platoon mates and in most cases, Bobbi outperformed them by far. She was unusually mature and articulate. During the residential phase of the program she continued to excel in every aspect of the program including fitness, academics and leadership. She became the motivation for her platoon and, in all honesty, she was a source of motivation for me to perform my job at a level well above satisfactory. Through the program she faced other obstacles and still never faltered. Her parents were having some problems back home and the father of the baby was not supportive of her decision to stay at the academy. She plunged ahead and still managed to receive her General Equivalency Diploma, became a certified nursing assistant, and successfully graduated the program at five and a half months pregnant.
Post ChalleNGe, Bobbi gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She has completed a year of college in Las Cruces and is working toward a degree in Dental Hygiene. I commend her on the determination to be a wonderful mother and productive member of her community. She turned a potentially negative situation into a success story. It takes a very strong, independent, beautiful young woman to be the mother and person that Bobbi is. We are proud to know her and ecstatic that she is one of our graduates. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Respectfully Submitted,
Angela Bonilla, SSG Recruiting, NMYCA