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VIEWPOINT OF A TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY CADET
On July 22nd, I started my journey at Texas Challenge Academy. My journey is my story. The story of a strong young girl who was feeling lost and scared, a girl filled with lots of emotions going through her head, a girl who was not convinced she would make it past the first two weeks. It is my story, my journey.
Being at TCA is hard. I will not sugar coat it. We are told that acclimation, the first four weeks, is the toughest time. There was only one short phone call home during that period, and we had to learn the ins and outs of the program and what is required of us. We acclimated to getting up earlier than the sun, eating only what we were offered, fast showers, and no electronics. That is a lot to get used to.
We must learn to live with others and get along. We must learn to march and obey orders. We must learn to get to and from classes. So much to learn in a few short weeks.
At times, I did not think I would make it, but thanks to my team leaders, Ms. Gonzales, Ms. Jaime, Ms. Reese, Ms. Shorter, Ms. Vela, and Mr. Miller, I did make it through acclimation, and I am here now, five weeks later.
We are told that after acclimation ends, cadets get five-minute phone calls on Sundays and cadet privates earn a seven-minute call. After acclimation, we will have service to community projects to look forward to, and after about ten weeks, we will have family day.
As the days go on, we are told it will not get easier, but we will get better at it. I am choosing to stay for twenty-two weeks and see it through to the end. I see myself as a strong girl that knows this is a once in a lifetime chance to get my life in order and make my family proud. And this journey at TCA will be a part of my life’s story.
