OVERCOMING FEAR AND LETTING GO
by Kate Fitzsimmons
Gladys Romero, mother of ELM trombone student Emily, recently told me that “participating in ELM is the best thing that happened to my daughter; she loves ELM.”
In addition to the opportunity for Emily to excel as a musician, ELM opens so many other vistas. Last summer, for example, ELM offered a chance for Emily to attend Deer Hill Expeditions summer camp in Colorado on full scholarship - including the flight to Colorado.
Gladys was initially fearful. “I didn’t know the program or the people involved. She’d be going so far away for two or three weeks. I was afraid for her safety,” Gladys admitted. “I couldn’t talk to anyone at ELM because Emily was in the first group of ELM students to go. I didn’t know what to do.”
Gladys carried the burden of her fear inside. She wanted to believe that Emily would be alright, but it went against all her instincts as a protective mother. In the face of Emily’s joyful enthusiasm and her trust in ELM, Gladys finally said yes.
Emily said, “I was very excited to go on my own because this was a huge opportunity. My mom never really let me go anywhere alone, so this is the first time she has trusted me to do things independently, without family members.”
Canoeing, cross-cultural service learning, and mountain backpacking were in store for Emily. She’d enjoyed all the activities, but the service learning made the biggest impression. Emily added, “We did 3 days of service, building their sidewalk with concrete, and it was fun. I liked it.”
That wasn’t the part that moved her. She admits that she was never very passionate about her Mayan heritage. During a service day, a Native American in the cultural exchange shared his belief that it is a blessing to have the gift of traditional blood, traditional language, food, and clothing that most people don't have.
Emily said, “Both of my parents have Mayan blood which is not common among Guatemalan people. My mom did tell me that, and we grew up speaking a dialect language that we can only learn as a family because it's passed down, but I never really paid attention until now. That is the main gift this trip gave me.
She also values the new sense of independence she feels, “I think my mother trusts me more now to make good decisions.”
Emily is entering her junior year in the fall. She is thinking about a career as a lawyer and looking at colleges throughout the country. “If I do go farther away for college, I think my experiences with ELM will make it easier for my mom.”