Let’s Give ‘em Hope - October 4th, Day 190, 17.6 miles, Tucumcari, NM

Tucumcari, NM is a colorful place. With Historic Highway 66 running through the town, the main street comes alive with retro motels, murals of 66 and New Mexican history, touristy restaurants whose signs try to reach taller and taller than the next one, motorcyclists traveling in groups, vagabond-looking weathered men carrying bags, and funky turquoise and red-painted trucks parked in front of equally as funky buildings. To top it off, the town is even situated at the base of the towering “Tucumcari Mountain” (it’s actually a mesa). At the sight of it all, it could be a traveler’s paradise - a long-awaited destination with all its glitz.

Route 66 Road Sign

Route 66 art deco...or something...

Crazy motorcycles in town

However, through conversation I had with a few teachers in town during lunch today, I learned something deeply-rooted about Tucumcari that is nothing close to glitzy. I sat and chatted with the two teachers and also Michael, a high school freshman on the cross country team who ran with me this morning, and I heard the real story of some of the people of Tucumcari and it made me want to DO SOMETHING to help!

(from left to right) Michael, and the two teachers, Shannon and Laura (Shannon's mom)

I learned that there is a sense of hopelessness the exists within many people here. That kind of hopelessness that inhibits dreams and stunts ambition. This type of hopelessness is one very big reason why I am doing this run and spreading the message that it is possible to dream, to create your life, to be someone who can make the world a better place. I am grateful that I learned this about Tucumcari because it gives me even more gusto to change this type of hopeless mentality within people.

Michael chimed in with his own personal experience, “yeah, it’s true, I know this one kid in high school, he was a freshmen, and he went to a party, got drunk, and impregnated this girl, who had the baby and she dropped out of school. The boy doesn’t even get to see his kid because they broke up...but I don’t want to be like that...”

Here we go. This is exactly what I am trying to change. I want to give these kids hope and tell them that there is more to life than what their parents settled for, than what they are expected to become (which is absolutely nothing), than what their teachers and the school system label them as (“bad kid”, “stupid kid”, “not-worth-trying-to-help kid”). Gosh, let me speak to the high school, to all the Tucumcari schools! These kids need to hear what I am saying. They need to hear that there are ways out of their lives, that they can achieve their dreams...that they should and can dream!

So, I asked Michael what his goals are for his life. “Oh me? I am going to get out of Tucumcari. I am going to college, I am working now so that I can save money and go, and fix my car too (he laughs). I want to be a doctor. I want to change people’s lives,” Michael said with a sense of confidence and also pride.

Earlier, while running together with the rest of the cross country team, Michael had told me that he had moved to Tucumcari from Los Angeles. He was a troubled kid in LA. I can only imagine how far he has come, considering now his personal goals and drive to help others to lift themselves out of their trapped lives. Michael is a role model to me. What helped him to get to the point that he believed in himself to have these goals of his? This is what I want to help kids (and people) to get to! To have dreams, goals, aspirations, and hope of their own.

Luckily in Tucumcari, Shannon and Laura are both trying to help kids get to that point. Shannon shared her take, “shower them in positive re-enforcement, hope, and love. Believe that [the kids] too can believe. I just have to be that role model to them. I can be someone who loves the kids, someone whom they know loves them back.”

Shannon continued, "I do love Tucumcari! There are some great, great families here. I would never move away. I moved away once and then I came back. I need to be here. I can help this place. I know that God will one day change Tucumcari for the better. I need to do my part. I have these preschoolers every year, and I need to help them. Tucumcari will get better.”

Just like Shannon, we need to do our part. If there is a problem, try to fix it. If you can be a positive role model to a kid, be that role model. Stick around, help, inspire kids and all people to dream outside their expectations. Jenny shared a saying with me today - “the kids who don’t deserve love need it the most.” If you see a troubled kid, gosh, help them! If someone needs help, help them. It is that simple.

We can all do our part. For me, it starts with inspiring others to dream, because, I know, that by pursuing your dreams you will be taken to your LIFE.

Love,
Katie

P.S. I love Tucumcari too:-)

Me and the Tucumcari Rattlers Jr. and Sr. High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Team! We rattled 4.7 miles together down Hwy 54 into town. No bites roadside, although I did learn how to chop off the head of a rattlesnake. Thanks, kids:-) OH! I also learned that the rockin' girls team is dang good - they placed 4th in state last year! GO GO GO LADY RATTLERS!!!

P.P.S. I crossed into New Mexico!!!! Hahaha. That means I am in mountain time zone now...trippy. This is totally surreal. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my dad before I started this adventure, pointing to New Mexico/Arizona on map of the USA and saying, "wow, can you imagine what it will be like to run through the true southwest? It's gonna be beautiful. I can't imagine!" And now, I made it here and it truly is gorgeous.