Overcoming Adversity
Heroic Choices empowers tweens to seek a better
tomorrow.
by Stephanie LeBlanc
PARENTGUIDE News January 2006
A resident of Queens, NY, 12-year-old Rachel
Mendoza, was deeply affected by the sudden
deaths of her aunt and uncle. According to
her, the traumatic event had left her feeling
sad, “like a Scrooge,” and she
struggled with moodiness.
Staff at the Center for Hope in Queens told
Rachel’s family about Heroic Choices
(HC) and how the program offers children like
Rachel practical assistance through resiliency
training and long-term mentoring relationships
that begin with a two-day retreat experience.
It was at the October 2003 retreat that Rachel,
attending with her Mom and two cousins, met
Rosally Sapla, a freelance marketing consultant
from New York City. They took an instant liking
to each other. Not only do they share similar
backgrounds and look so much alike that people
assume they are related, they soon discovered
they have many hobbies in common, including
a love for food and fashion.
So when it was time to match new mentors with
their mentees, it was no surprise that Rachel
and Rosally were each other’s first
choice. “I was so happy when I found
out Rosally would be my mentor,” Rachel
says.
And it wasn’t long into the relationship
before Rosally realized her life was changing
as well. “Being a mentor is better than
I expected,” she says. “Rachel
is incredible, sweet, caring and articulate.
I’m the luckiest person in the world.”
The Heroic Choices program helps build resiliency
in children ages 8-12, who have experienced
trauma such as physical, mental or sexual
abuse; the loss of a loved one; or violence
in the home or community. The program helps
children believe in themselves so that they
bounce back from setbacks and emerge stronger
than before, prepared to deal with whatever
lies ahead of them. To aid traumatized children,
Heroic Choices does not focus on reducing
these problems and risks, but rather on building
strengths and equipping each child with protective
assets.
Heroic Choices does so through carefully developed
“resiliency training.” During
a 12-month period, the program provides children
with the skills and awareness they need to
become resilient. HC also provides one parent/guardian
and their chosen mentor with tools and knowledge
to support the children now and later in life,
based on the concept of the Search Institute’s
“40 Developmental Assets.” Through
extensive research determining what enables
children to become healthy, productive and
responsible, Search has documented these 40
attributes, or assets, which are tangible,
common-sense, positive experiences and qualities
essential to the healthy development of children
into adulthood.
Not only do Rachel and Rosally have fun when
they’re together, Rosally works to incorporate
the concepts of the 40 Developmental Assets
into Rachel’s life, and move her further
toward resiliency. For instance, they always
plan ahead for their two-hour Saturday meetings
(“planning,” asset No. 32). Activities
vary from Rosally teaching exercises and stretching
techniques— what Rachel calls “yoga-like
moves”— to arts and crafts (“creative
activities,” asset No. 7).
Rosally also takes time to teach Rachel positive
values and ethics that she will likely employ
throughout her lifetime (“positive values,”
asset No. 6). Rosally frequently uses books
and other materials to reinforce the values.
And, of course, they talk— a lot.
“I talk to Rosally about all kinds of
things,” says Rachel. “I feel
like we’ve known each other for years.
Before Heroic Choices I was sad and always
moody; now I am happier.”
Rosally has expressed similar sentiments.
“Being a part of Heroic Choices is like
being part of a whole new family,” she
says. “It is a community of wonderful
people who truly want to do some good in the
world. I have always wanted to give back and
now I finally am.”
Heroic Choices held its seventh resiliency
training retreat May 13-15, 2005 at the Harrison
Conference Center in Plainsboro, NJ. A record
77 children from all over New Jersey and New
York attended their very own life-changing
experience that weekend.
Throughout retreat periods, attendees participate
in various asset-driven sessions. The child,
caregiver and/or mentor then develop an action
plan to serve as a road map throughout the
next 12 months for the child. Focusing on
three or four key assets that need further
development, the action plan guides the child,
caregiver and/or mentor toward positively
shaping these assets, helping ensure that
children involved adhere to an empowering
lifestyle.
Following the resiliency weekend retreat,
caregivers and mentors meet with the children
on a regular basis. Using the asset-based
curriculum’s handbook, workbook and
the child’s asset action plan, the children
and their adult counterparts work together
on developing the already identified asset
areas in need of positive reinforcement for
resiliency. Heroic Choices also produces a
bi-monthly publication in which caregivers
and/or mentors receive helpful tips on activities
and ways to strengthen asset development in
the children.
The Heroic Choices staff stays in touch with
participants through ongoing communication,
resiliency training sessions, special activities
and field trips for the children’s healthy
development. At the close of their yearlong
work on individual action plans for asset
building, the children graduate from the program
in commemoration of their success.
If you would like further information about
Heroic Choices or are interested in making
a donation, please contact Stephanie LeBlanc,
development associate, by phone at (866)HERO111
(437-6111), ext. 112, or by e-mail at SLeBlanc@HeroicChoices.org.
You may also visit the Web site www.HeroicChoices.org.
Located in Princeton, NJ, Heroic Choices was
originally founded as The Todd M. Beamer Foundation
in memory of Todd Beamer, one of the heroes
aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
Todd’s strength of character, faith
and courage continue to inspire the mission
of Heroic Choices, as the program helps children
make strides every day to overcome adversity,
navigate life’s obstacles and grow to
become healthy, responsible, productive adults.
