Lackana Sot, senior at Oakland HS

At the close of a recent community gathering at Oakland High School, I was approached by a student, a young man I did not recognize. He politely introduced himself. “Mr. Roth, my name is  Lackana Sot and I want to thank you for making it possible for me to attend the Mission Springs Science Camp when I was a fifth-grader at Buckhalter Elementary in 2009. I especially remember the rock climbing exercise. I was terrified of the idea of being suspended so high in the air with only a rope to keep me safe, and thinking that I would stop about a quarter of the way up. However, as soon it was my turn, I remember scaling that wall in no time at all. I had forgotten about being scared because I found something new that I enjoyed. This is where I really started breaking out of my shell to explore new experiences.”

What an amazing encounter! I thought to myself, “You never know what might make a lasting difference in a student’s life.” Still climbing, Lackana is a senior at Oakland High and applying to UC universities, leaning toward majoring in biology or computer science.

For the children,
Randy