We have to tell you about Sam…
Mae Cisneros had only one person in mind when she reached for her scissors to clip a Taos News article about the free postsecondary counseling offered by Bridges Project for Education, and that was Sam, her beloved and bright grandson. Sam, however, was only 14 and not thinking of college at all.
Sam Montoya will join the freshman class of '27 at New Mexico State University this fall.
For his part, Sam was fully immersed in the abundant and rich ranching family culture he was being raised in.
The most pressing matters on Sam’s mind were animal husbandry, soil management and best practices for herd health. When Sam began to offer his ideas for reducing soil erosion, and a less stressful approach to cattle branding, the grown men he worked alongside balked. Sam says, “they’d been doing things the way they’d always been doing them — the way their daddies ranched and the way their granddaddies ranched.”
The men humored Sam’s precocious nature, but they also warned him he’d better do his research.
Sam took the men at their word and devoted himself to analyzing ranching data. “I didn’t understand everything I read,” says Sam, but he nevertheless succeeded in convincing the men to integrate the livestock management techniques he believed would improve soil health, and also to adopt an alternative branding intervention that minimized a calf’s stressful time away from its mother.
When Sam’s plans produced positive results, the oldtimers — his mentors — took pride in his intellect. Sam says, “they started telling me, ‘If you don’t go to college, we’re not gonna let you work with us anymore.’”
Andrew Montoya Jr., Sam's dad, could also see his great potential, and he too began to press Sam to consider college. But Sam could think only of ranching. It wasn’t until his senior year at Taos Academy when he began to feel, in his own bones, his true place in academics.
“One of my teachers was talking about everything wrong with the beef industry — but I could see she didn’t have the full picture.” Sam says a friend shot him a look and rolled his eyes. But Sam sat straight up. “I started asking questions.” When Sam offered his teacher a new perspective on the industry he knew so well, she challenged him to build a formal presentation to change her mind.
And so, just as he had with the ranching men, Sam used research and data, personal experience and the force of his own spirit to change her mind.
Sam's future is bright. This fall, when he sets off for college, he'll be the first person in his family to have ever done so. And when he leaves New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, his degree will be a benefit not only to himself, but to his entire community, and wherever he takes his talent for the rest of his life.
Sam’s story offers a catharsis for everyone. His success is made possible not just by one person caring, but by many people caring. Your support of Bridges makes an impact!
The time Sam spent with Bridge's counselor, Sue Martin-Trujillo, provided precisely the individualized attention he needed to apply to several schools — of which he was accepted to every one! With Sue's guidance, Sam and Mae also had the confidence to choose the program and financial package that was most appropriate for him.
“Had it not been for Bridges, and especially the help we received with the FASFA application, we would have been lost!” says Mae.
Taos is stronger when we hold the doors of opportunity open for one another. Since 1997 over 3200 people in our community — a mix of high school students, adult students, lifetime learners, and later-in-life learners — have sought out our postsecondary education counseling services.
Our mission is simple: We simplify, demystify and eliminate the barriers that might otherwise keep so many from realizing their greatest dreams.
Thank you for your support in our mission — and thank you for considering a contribution to our spring campaign, or joining our monthly donation program.
No donation is too small!
Sincerely,
Anne
Anne Levine
Executive Director
Bridges Project for Education
www.bridgesproject.org
575.758.5074
P.S. Thank you for considering a tax-deductible donation. Your support of BRIDGES is an investment in our community!