Natasha’s Story
A Leap of Self-Confidence
By Jim Thomas, Senior Administrator of Development and Activities

When “Natasha” became part of the Lee & Beulah Moor Children’s Home family, she was 13 and, like all young teenagers, was both excited and a little intimidated by becoming a teenager and living at the Home. But Natasha came to us with a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. She always had a smile on her face.

Although the agency had been engaged in rock climbing and rappelling activities for many years, our Adventure Program had just completed construction of the ropes course at Three Rivers, New Mexico. I not only tell participants not to attempt any activity they don’t feel comfortable with, I also ask them to promise they won’t do anything because of pressure from someone else or themselves.

Natasha was in one of our first groups, but after seeing the ropes course, she was not altogether sure she wanted to be involved. She discovered that she had a fear of heights, but more telling was that she had a problem with trust. Natasha made it only halfway up the 10-foot-tall ladder that first year. The next summer, she made it to the top of the pole. Each time, as she apologized for not being able to complete the activity, everyone praised her for her improvement.

The next year she was able to traverse a cable that was 35 feet above the ground and sit on the zipline tower while trying to muster the courage to go down the zipline. At one point, she asked me to push her and I told her I couldn’t because it was her choice and I couldn’t make it for her. She replied that she would tell everyone that the wind blew her off if I would push her. I told her that both of us would know the truth. She opted to climb down instead.

The next summer, while on our trip to Tucson, Natasha climbed a 50-foot cliff. It seemed much higher because it was at the edge of a shelf that dropped several hundred feet to the canyon floor. Following the climb, she could hardly contain herself as she ran around giggling and screaming, “I did it! I can’t believe I did it!”

During her last summer with us, Natasha accomplished the goal she had set for herself four years before, when she completed each high challenge, including the zipline and rappelling 40 feet from the top of the climbing tower. Looking down as she stepped off the tower, she exclaimed, “This is so scary!”

Later that day, Natasha asked me, “Sir, can you believe I did that?” I told her that I always believed she could, but what made the difference was that she believed she could do it. She smiled and responded, “I know, but thanks.”