- IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SITUATION AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH.

- I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE SIX WEEK RECOVERY.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE ALMOST A YEAR THAT I COULDN'T PLAY.

- WHEN I WAS BORN, I COULDN'T MOVE MY ARM, BUT THE VIOLIN HAS ACTUALLY HELPED ME A LOT.

- I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS IS TO HAVE THAT OUTLET FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION.

AND I LOVE WORKING WITH KIDS, AND THEY'RE LIKE THE NEXT GENERATION.

- EVEN IF WE CAN'T VOTE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT PEOPLE AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE REPRESENTED.

[CHEERING] - WE WANT CAMPERS TO BE ABLE TO DISCOVER SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

IT'S A PLACE REALLY FOR KIDS TO BE KIDS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE GROUP OF KIDDOS THAT WE HAVE.

- IT'S SUPER FUN.

IT REALLY JUST GIVES YOU GOOD MEMORIES.

- FUN, AWESOME, GREAT.

BASICALLY, ALL THE GOOD, FUN WORDS.

- WELCOME TO COLORADO VOICES, OUR NEXT GENERATION.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE JOURNEY ACROSS THE STATE TO HEAR THE STORIES OF YOUTH IN CITIES AND IN RURAL AREAS.

WE MEET KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND CELEBRATING THEIR SUCCESS.

ALL OF IT SHOWS THE DREAMS AND HOPES OF COLORADO'S NEXT GENERATION.

FIRST, WE HEAD TO GYPSUM.

THEIR ROUNDUP RIVER RANCH OFFERS A SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE TO CHILDREN WHO ARE BATTLING SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

THE CAMP IS FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPATING FAMILIES, MAKING A LONG LASTING IMPACT.

- YOU CAN SEE UP THERE, THERE IS A CLIMBING WALL THING.

IF IT ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, I'M GOING TO CLIMB UP THAT ROCK WALL, GET ACROSS THAT OBSTACLE COURSE AND ZIP DOWN.

- OKAY, DO YOU WANT ME TO TEACH YOU?

- YEAH.

- SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD IT SO THE BIG PART IS FACING UP.

- SO UP.

THERE WE GO.

- YOU DID THAT SO FAST.

ON BELAY, BELAY IS ON.

- CAN I CLIMB?

- CLIMB ON.

- WE DO A LOT OF FUN THINGS HERE AT CAMP, BUT THERE'S A REASON BEHIND THOSE FUN THINGS THAT WE DO.

EACH PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HAS A CHALLENGE TO IT, AND THEN THERE'S A SUCCESS PIECE.

SO, WE WANT EACH KIDDO TO SEE SUCCESS, AND THEN DISCOVER SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I AM BRAVE, I AM CREATIVE, I AM COURAGEOUS.

[CHEERING] [MUSIC] - ROUNDUP RIVER RANCH IS A CAMP FOR CHILDREN LIVING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES, A CHANCE TO JUST BE ORDINARY KIDS.

KIDS WHO AREN'T USUALLY ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE A REGULAR SUMMER CAMP ARE ABLE TO COME UP TO ROUNDUP, AND WE HAVE A MEDICALLY SUPPORTED ICU.

WE HAVE DOCTORS, AND NURSES, AND JUST SO MUCH GREAT PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE WILLING TO LOVE THE KIDS.

- ROUNDUP RIVER RANCH IS A MEMBER OF THE SERIOUS FUND NETWORK, PAUL NEWMAN'S FAMILY OF CAMPS.

- PAUL NEWMAN FOUNDED THESE CAMPS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, BUT WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY MANAGED, GOVERNED, FUNDED.

HIS VISION WAS TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE KIDS COULD RAISE A LITTLE HELL AND JUST BE ORDINARY.

AT FIRST, I DIDN'T LOVE THAT.

I WAS LIKE, WELL, ORDINARY?

THESE KIDS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.

BUT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, JUST THE ORDINARY JOYS OF CHILDHOOD.

- THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE AT CAMP TODAY WHO 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO WOULDN'T EVEN BE ALIVE.

AND THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING WHAT MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS HAVE LED TO TO ALLOW THESE KIDS TO BE AT CAMP IS EXTRAORDINARY.

- CAMP IS JUST SO FUN.

IT'S A PLACE REALLY FOR KIDS TO BE KIDS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE GROUP OF KIDDOS THAT WE HAVE, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A KID.

MY NAME IS CONNOR FITZGERALD.

I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER HERE AT CAMP, WHICH MEANS I GET TO DO ALL THE FUN STUFF.

SO, ALL THE PROGRAM AREAS.

WE'RE DOWN HERE AT THE LAKE RIGHT NOW.

SO, WE DO FISHING AND BOATING, ARCHERY.

- WE HAVE LILLY'S SOUND GARDEN, LOTS OF ART.

THERE'S ROCK CLIMBING.

THERE'S A ZIPLINE.

THERE'S A TARZAN ROPES COURSE AS WELL.

I THINK CAMP PROVIDES A BACKGROUND, A BACKDROP FOR LEARNING, FOR GROWTH THAT YOU CAN'T EXPERIENCE ANYPLACE ELSE.

- I HAVE MISSED MY FAMILY A LOT, BUT IT REALLY JUST GIVES YOU GOOD MEMORIES AND IT'S REALLY FUN.

- THIS IS GOING TO BE REAL LIFE SPACE INVADERS.

SO, MY FRIENDS FROM THE HAWK CABIN ARE GOING TO BRING US OUR LASERS BACK IN JUST A SECOND.

AND YOU SEE, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE TARGETS SET UP AROUND THE CIRCLE HERE.

SO, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THOSE LASERS FOR YOU TO THROW OFF THE SIDE.

- HI, MY NAME IS MAGGIE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT THE BACK OF MY CABIN, THE ASPEN CABIN.

- LIKE IF I SAY, I LIKE YOUR SHIRT.

- THANKS.

AND THEN, I GIVE HER ONE BECAUSE I REALLY LIKED IT.

- I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY PARENTS, BUT THEN AFTER I DID IT, NOW I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE CAMP.

FUN, AWESOME, GREAT.

BASICALLY ALL THE GOOD, FUN WORDS.

- THESE KIDS LIVE MOST OF THEIR LIVES AND CERTAINLY THEIR ILLNESSES WITH BEING TOLD WHAT THEY CAN'T DO.

AND SO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO.

- BOAT, NO.

I NEED YOU TO YELL SOMETHING WHEN I PUSH YOU OFF, OKAY?

- OKAY.

- PADDLES UP.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

- I DON'T KNOW.

- THERE'S SOME LITTLE FISHY FISH OVER HERE.

- WHEN THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE CAMPERS, THEY'RE NOT PATIENTS, THEY'RE KIDS.

AND SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED WITHOUT FEELING MEDICAL.

SO, THE DEPOT IS OUR MEDICAL CLINIC, BUT WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO BE MEDICAL HERE.

SO, EVERYTHING IS TRAIN THEMED HERE BECAUSE WE'RE BACK RIGHT UP TO A RAIL LINE.

SO, THIS IS ONE OF OUR EQUIPMENT ROOMS, AND WE HAVE WHEELCHAIRS, WE HAVE OXYGEN TANKS, WE HAVE BEDSIDE COMMODES, KIND OF ANY OF THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES YOU WOULD NEED, EXTRA PADDING FOR BEDS, ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS GO HOME EVEN HEALTHIER THAN WHEN THEY CAME.

- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ARE ALWAYS SO EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WHEN WE WATCH KIDS AT CAMP, IT'S SORT OF LIKE YOU LIFT THE LID, RIGHT?

YOU LET EVERYTHING OUT THAT THEY'VE BEEN BOTTLING UP FOR MONTHS AND YEARS SOMETIMES.

SOMETIMES THE ENERGY IS EXTRAORDINARY.

[PLAYING MUSIC] [CHEERING] - I LIKE ABOUT CAMP THAT I CAN MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND I GOT TO GO DOWN THE ZIP LINE AND CLIMB UP A ROCK WALL.

- THERE'S LIKE TONS OF ACTIVITIES, AND THE CHALLENGE COURSE IS SO FUN, AND YOU GET TO ZIP LINE LIKE CRAZY.

AND I LOVE IT AND I THINK THIS IS THE BEST CAMP EVER.

SO, YEAH.

- ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS IS THE OBSTACLES.

AND MY OTHER FAVORITE PART IS DOING ARTS.

- I LIKE IT THAT IT'S REALLY FUN AND I GET TO MEET LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS.

- I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS SMILE ABOUT WHEN WE'RE AT CAMP IS THAT WHEN WE SEE KIDS PLAYING OUT ON THE FIELDS, WE'LL SEE THEM AT ACTIVITIES, YOU CAN'T TELL WHO IS THE SICK KID, AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL THING TO DO BECAUSE KIDS ARE THEN NOT DEFINED BY THEIR DIAGNOSIS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

- THAT'S WHERE I FOUND THE MOST JOY IS WOW, THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE.

WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS CAMP EXPERIENCE.

FINDING JOY IN THE EVERYDAY IS EXTRAORDINARY.

- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, BREAK DANCING WILL BE PART OF COMPETITION IN THIS SUMMER'S 2024 OLYMPICS.

AND LIKE MOST OLYMPIC DISCIPLINES, TRAINING STARTS AT A YOUNG AGE.

B-BOY FACTORY IS ONE PLACE IN DENVER WORKING TO INTRODUCE THE SPORT TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

- BREAKING IS AN EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

[MUSIC] JAZZ, FUNK, ROCK AND ROLL, LIKE THEY'VE ALL EVOLVED FROM EACH OTHER, AND HIP HOP WAS THE EVOLUTION OF THAT SAME MUSIC BEING REMIXED BY DJS WHO DIDN'T HAVE INSTRUMENTS, BUT THEY HAD TURNTABLES.

[Music] THE DANCE FORM, ORIGINALLY, IT WAS JUST UPRIGHT.

IT WASN'T PEOPLE BREAKING ON THE FLOOR AND DOING GROUND MOVES, IT WAS AN UPRIGHT DANCE, AND THEN AT SOME POINT, SOMEBODY WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND PROBABLY PARTIES STARTED GOING CRAZY, AND EVERYONE STARTED FREAKING OUT, AND THEN LIKE THAT LIGHT BULB LIKE, OH, WE COULD DANCE DOWN HERE ON THE FLOOR.

[MUSIC] - DO YOU.

DO YOUR SIGNATURE MOVES.

DO YOUR COMFORTABLE MOVES.

DO WHAT YOU KNOW LOOKS GOOD.

MAKE SENSE?

- A FEW YEARS AFTER COLLEGE, I WENT TO SEOUL AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER.

THE KOREAN DANCE SCENE WAS LIKE REALLY HIGH LEVEL, AND A LOT OF MY ICONIC PEOPLE I WAS LOOKING UP TO WERE KOREAN DANCERS.

TEACHING ENGLISH WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO STUDY WITH A LOT OF DANCERS THAT I WANTED TO STUDY WITH.

THEN, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH KIDS DANCE WHILE I WAS IN KOREA.

IT DID GIVE ME A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, AND IT CHANGED LIKE THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE.

IT GAVE ME AN OUTLET FOR CREATIVE VOICE, CREATIVE EXPRESSION.

I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS IS TO HAVE THAT OUTLET FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITHOUT IT FEELING ARTSY, OR SENSITIVE, OR YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF ENERGY OR THEY COME FROM A ROUGH BACKGROUND.

THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO LIKE PLAY THE PIANO OR BE IN LIKE A FINE ARTS CLASS, RIGHT?

AND THIS IS STILL ART, IT'S STILL THAT EXPRESSION, BUT IT'S GOT THIS LIKE RAW GRITTINESS TO IT, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF KIDS.

SO, I FELT LIKE TO ELEVATE THE LEVEL OF BREAKING IN COLORADO, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO HAVE BETTER EDUCATION, BRINGING IN LIKE WORKSHOPS, BRINGING IN MASTER TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, AND LIKE A CONSISTENT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO PRACTICE AND FOR PEOPLE TO TRAIN.

[MUSIC] - I LOVE IT.

I LOVE COMING HERE.

I'M ALWAYS SUPER-- IT'S SUPER EXCITING TO COME.

IT'S REALLY FUN.

- ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS COMING IN, LIKE I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT ART IS AS VALUABLE AS COMPETITION.

- I LIKE HOW IT'S NOT SUPER CHOREOGRAPHED.

IT'S LIKE YOU CAN DO IT BASICALLY WHATEVER YOU WANT, AND IT'S SUPER CREATIVE.

- I DEFINITELY LEARNED LIKE WITH MY FIRST GENERATION OF STUDENTS THAT IT'S LIKE YOU REALLY INVEST A LOT INTO STUDENTS, BUT AT SOME POINT, THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE THE NEST AND LIKE AND SPREAD THEIR WINGS, AND IT'S AMAZING.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE LIKE FROM THEIR VERY FIRST CLASS AND INTRO BEGINNER CLASS TO LIKE PROFESSIONAL DANCER, WAY BEYOND MY, YOU KNOW, LEVEL OR BEYOND MY SORT OF SKILL LEVEL, KIND OF CARRYING THAT TORCH AND REALLY LIKE LEAVING A LEGACY FOR THE STUDIO AND FOR MYSELF.

- HOPING TO WIN MORE BATTLE.

I MEAN, LIKE JAMS, AND DO MORE COMPETITION, AND GET MORE POWERFUL MOVES.

LIKE I REALLY WANT TO POP, REALLY WANT TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF.

- IT'S BIGGER THAN ME OR THE BREAK, THE B-BOY FACTORY, OR ANY ONE STUDENT.

WE HAVE LIKE A WHOLE HUGE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE KIDS BLOSSOM AND GROW UP.

- MORE THAN 1.25 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 LIVE IN COLORADO.

THAT IS ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S POPULATION, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE POLICY LEVEL, WHICH IS WHY A STUDENT GROUP ON THE WESTERN SLOPE WAS INSPIRED TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO.

[MUSIC] - EVEN IF WE CAN'T VOTE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT PEOPLE, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE REPRESENTED.

AND SO, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT ALSO FOR PARENTS, FOR TEACHERS, FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THEMSELVES TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE REPRESENTED.

I'M MILA STEPAN, I'M A JUNIOR AT PALISADE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M A HEAD INTERN HERE AT WEST SLOPE YOUTH VOICE.

- WE ARE A GROUP THAT IS FOCUSED ON GETTING STUDENTS TO COME TOGETHER TO VOICE THEIR ISSUES THAT THEY'VE NOTICED WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL OR WITHIN THEIR HOME LIFE THAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED CHANGED OR JUST BROUGHT TO LIGHT.

- OUR OFFICIAL MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT WE SERVE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GET STUDENT VOICES HEARD.

- MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE ALLEN, I'M A SENIOR HERE AT PALISADE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ONE OF THE TWO HEAD INTERNS AT WEST SLOPE YOUTH VOICE.

- SO, I THINK OUR TWO LIKE MAJOR VICTORIES THIS YEAR IS THE SCHOOL BOARD FORUM, AND THEN GETTING THE DISTRICT TO APPROVE A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER AT THE GRAND JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE'S A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE VALLEY, AND THAT HAS REDUCED SUICIDE RATES ALMOST COMPLETELY THERE.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS YEAR IN MARCH VOTED AGAINST INCLUDING THAT AT GRAND JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL, AND ALL OF US WERE REALLY UPSET.

AND THEN, WHEN I JOINED THIS SUMMER, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM TO REVERSE THAT DECISION.

- WE AS A GROUP, WEST SLOPE YOUTH VOICE, STAND IN SUPPORT OF PLACING A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER IN GRAND JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL.

- WE KIND OF JUST PUSHED THROUGH WITH, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO JUST LIVE IN GRAND JUNCTION, SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

LIKE NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO A BUNCH OF TEENAGERS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST OUR VOICE, OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE TRULY JUST IMPACTED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO, YOU KNOW, TRULY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.

- OUR STUDENT SURVEY LIKE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS A FEW MAJOR THINGS, AND THESE OFTEN HAVE TO DO WITH LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, AND FEELING SAFE IN SCHOOLS, AND USUALLY FOOD, LIKE HEALTHY FOOD FOR STUDENTS IS UP THERE AS WELL.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ASK IS WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS WANT TO STAY IN THE VALLEY.

WE ASK WHY DO YOU WANT TO STAY?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE?

AND A LOT OF THE REASONS WHY IS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE TO LEGISLATORS A LOT.

- AND SO, THAT LOOKS LIKE ANYTHING FROM GOING TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO GOING TO THE HOUSE SESSION, TO GOING TO SENATE SESSION, TO MEETING ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS.

- A LOT OF THESE, YOU KNOW, VERY HIGH STAKE CONVERSATIONS THAT NOT MANY ADULTS THINK THAT STUDENTS CARE ABOUT.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE'VE TAKEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND IMPLEMENTED THEM INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, INTO OUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY HERE.

- THE SCHOOL BOARD FORUM THAT WE HELD WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

WE HAD ALL FIVE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES IN ONE PLACE WHO ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ASK A MIX OF VERY DIRECT YES OR NO QUESTIONS, AND THEN QUESTIONS WHERE THEY GOT TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES.

IN THE PAST, WE'VE SEEN VOTER AGES 18 TO 24 BE THE LOWEST TURNOUT, BUT THAT NUMBER KEEPS RISING.

THE MORE OUR YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE GETTING INVOLVED THEY'RE BEING MORE ACTIVE AND THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING POLITICS MORE.

THEY'RE WANTING TO BE MORE INVOLVED, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND BE ABLE TO SAY I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ELECTION.

- BEFORE I JOINED WEST SLOPE YOUTH VOICE, I FELT LIKE I WAS KIND OF IN A HOPELESS SITUATION, AT LEAST UNTIL I WAS LIKE 18 BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I DID NOT HAVE A VOICE AND LIKE I JUST FELT LIKE I COULDN'T BE HEARD.

AND JOINING WEST SLOPE YOUTH VOICE HELPED ME REALLY NOTICE THAT I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS JUST THE LIKE SHEER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT HAVE LISTENED TO ME.

I AM 17, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO PROBABLY MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAN MOST ADULTS, AND I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED GIVE ME HELP GOING FORWARD.

- FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE CAN COME IN MANY FORMS.

FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES, SUCCESS IN A SPORT CAN MEAN ENTRANCE TO COLLEGE OR LANDING A SPOT ON A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, SO THE PRESSURE IS ON.

THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AT RANGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP PLAYERS HEALTHY AND ON THE COURT.

[MUSIC] - MY DAD USED TO PLAY BASKETBALL, SO I REALLY LIKE GOT ENCOURAGED BY HIM BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS REALLY GOOD, SO I WANTED TO BE REALLY GOOD TOO.

- I COULD ONLY GET BETTER FROM HERE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE A HEALTHY PERSON.

MAYBE THE WORST THING I'VE DONE WAS LIKE DISLOCATE MY THUMBS AND LIKE SPRAIN MY ANKLE, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

- MY NAME IS SEAN PALMER.

I'M THE BOYS BASKETBALL COACH AT RANGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M ALSO A MATH TEACHER HERE AS WELL.

WE'VE HAD SOME INJURIES AND HAD SOME KIDS MISS SOME TIME, BUT NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE'D EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR WHERE WE HAD FIVE PLAYERS IN OUR PROGRAM IN A BASICALLY A 12-MONTH PERIOD HAVE ACL INJURIES WHERE THEY HAD TO HAVE SURGERY.

- WE HAD A FOOTBALL GAME, AND WE PLAYED AGAINST A TEAM THAT WE PLAYED JUST RECENTLY.

WHEN IT HAPPENED, LIKE I WAS ON DEFENSE AND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A PLAY.

JUST SO HAPPENED MY TEAMMATE WAS DOWNFIELD TOO, SO HE CAME BACK TO TRY TO HELP ME BUT HE GOT PUSHED.

HE FELL ON MY LEG.

SO, I WAS GOING ONE WAY, BUT MY LEG WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL IT POP OR ANYTHING.

I JUST COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING FROM LIKE MY KNEE BELOW.

IT WAS LIKE NUMB, SO I COULDN'T MOVE IT OR ANYTHING.

- IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE CAMP.

I DROVE INTO A CROWD OF SPACE.

I TRIED TO STEP THROUGH MY RIGHT KNEE, MY RIGHT LEG, AND LIKE WHEN I JUST LANDED, IT JUST HAPPENED.

I THOUGHT LIKE IN MY HEAD, I WAS LIKE OH, I JUST BUMPED KNEES WITH SOMEONE.

I'M GOOD.

BUT LIKE IT SWELLED UP REAL QUICK, LIKE IT WAS SWOLLEN.

RIGHT AFTER, LIKE I COULD BARELY WALK.

- MY FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL, I WAS ON CRUTCHES.

IT FELT SO WEIRD BECAUSE LIKE MY LEG WAS LIKE IMMOBILE AND I HAD TO LIKE USE CRUTCHES WHEREVER I WENT.

I HAD TO LEAVE CLASS EARLY, AND I WAS LIKE REALLY STRUGGLING BECAUSE IT WAS HURTING MY ARMS AND I JUST WANTED TO WALK, BUT I COULDN'T.

- AND WHEN I FOUND OUT I TORE MY ACL, LIKE I WAS JUST DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE SIX WEEK RECOVERY.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE ALMOST A YEAR THAT I COULDN'T PLAY.

- IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SITUATION AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH.

AND FOR ME, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT MYSELF AS A 16 YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE AND HOW DEVASTATED I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF SOMEBODY TOLD ME YEAH YOU CAN'T PLAY FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE OR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

- YOU SHOOT 10 THREE-POINTERS AND YOU MAKE HALF OF THEM, THAT'S 15 POINTS.

IF HE FOLLOWS HIM, WHERE IS HE FORCING HIM TO GO?

HE'S FORCING HIM TO CURL RIGHT INTO ARCHIE.

IS THIS ARCHIE HERE?

- DURING THAT PROCESS, LIKE WE PLAY LIKE TWO GAMES.

SO, I MISSED THE FIRST TWO GAMES AND WE LOST.

ME NOT PLAYING, I FELT BAD THAT I COULDN'T HELP THEM AT ALL.

THEY BOTH HAD SURGERY WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER LAST NOVEMBER.

SO, A LOT OF WHAT THEY DID, THEY DID TOGETHER.

THEN THEY BOTH GOT CLEARED TO START DOING MORE AND MORE THINGS IN JULY.

- MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SISTER, MY BROTHER, THEY HELPED ME A LOT.

MY COACHES AND SOME OF MY TEAMMATES, A LOT OF MY TEAMMATES KEPT ASKING LIKE HOW AM I DOING?

HOPE YOU GET OKAY.

HOPE YOU GET BETTER.

- EVERYBODY WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

LIKE PEOPLE USED TO TEXT ME ALL THE TIME ASKING HOW MY LEG IS.

MY COACHES LIKE CHECKING ON ME LIKE AFTER CLASS OR WHEN THEY SEE ME IN THE HALLWAYS.

JUST EVERYBODY BEING SUPPORTIVE.

- I TRUSTED IN GOD.

LIKE HE TAUGHT ME TO BE PATIENT LIKE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE LIKE SITUATION.

I LEARNED TO BE MORE PATIENT AND TRUST IN THE PROCESS LIKE HIS PLAN THAT HE HAD FOR ME.

- I ALWAYS HAD GOOD SPIRITS BECAUSE DURING THAT TIME, I WAS JUST THINKING LIKE I GOTTA COME BACK, SO I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

- DURING HIGH SCHOOL, I JUST WANT TO LIKE WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AFTER I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, BE ONE JUST BE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT I CAN.

THAT'S MY GOAL BECAUSE I DID PROMISE MY MOM TO BUY HER A HOUSE, SO I NEED TO MAKE THAT PROMISE.

SO, IF I GET TO THE LEAGUE, THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

- MY GOAL IS TO AT LEAST MAKE ALL STATE BEFORE I LEAVE, GET SOME RECOGNITION, AND LIKE BE ABLE TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

FROM THERE ON, I'M GONNA KEEP WORKING AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE THAT PROVIDED FOR ME.

- IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY EXCITING GETTING TO SEE THEM PUT THE BASKETBALL UNIFORM ON AND GET OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO COMPETE AND CONTRIBUTE WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

- ONE, TWO, THREE, FAMILY.

- MANY STUDENTS FIND TRIUMPH AND CHALLENGE THROUGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

FOR THE YOUTH AT CHAVEZ HUERTA PREPARATORY ACADEMY IN PUEBLO, MUSIC IS AN OUTLET, ONE THAT ALSO CONNECTS MANY STUDENTS TO THEIR OWN HERITAGE.

- WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE PERFORMING ON STAGE?

- IF I'M GONNA MESS UP.

- I MOSTLY THINK ABOUT LIKE HOW TO GET READY FOR THE PERFORMANCE.

- I THINK ABOUT MESSING UP, BUT MOST OF THE TIMES, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S GONNA GO OKAY.

AND I GUESS THAT'S HOW I COULD CALM MYSELF DOWN.

- I DO GET OUT OF THAT MINDSET BECAUSE LIKE I DO MESS UP OCCASIONALLY, BUT IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.

[PLAYING MUSIC] - I'VE JUST LOVED MUSIC MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I WANTED TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

- I LOVE MARIACHI MUSIC.

I'VE BEEN HEARING IT SINCE I WAS LITTLE FROM MY PARENTS.

- I HAVE MOVED LIKE A LOT IN MY LIFE, AND IT WAS TOTALLY EASIER TO MAKE MORE FRIENDS BY PLAYING MARIACHI.

- WHEN I WAS, BORN I COULDN'T MOVE MY ARM, BUT THE VIOLIN HAS ACTUALLY HELPED ME A LOT.

I COULD DO A LOT OF THINGS NOW WITH MY LEFT ARM.

- MY PARENTS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED THAT I'M IN THIS PROGRAM.

WHEN THEY SEE ME ON STAGE AND EVERYTHING, IT'S JUST EXCITING BECAUSE THEY'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE SONGS TOO, AND THEY LOVE SEEING ME PLAY IT, AND THEY SEE THE PASSION I HAVE FOR IT.

- WHEN WE GO TO MEXICO AND SEE ALL MY RELATIVES, COUSINS, WHEN I SAY MARIACHI THEY GET ALL SURPRISED.

THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, REALLY?” I'M LIKE, "YEAH.” THEY'RE LIKE, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.” I'M LIKE, "IT IS REALLY FUN."

[PLAYING MUSIC] [PLAYING MUSIC] - CESAR CHAVEZ WAS AT SCHOOL.

HE SAID CAN YOU CREATE A MUSIC PROGRAM MARIACHI-ORIENTED, BUT IT'S INCLUDING THE TRADITION, THE HISTORY OF THE MARIACHI, BUT ALSO ALL THE MUSIC THEORY, EVERY SINGLE THING THAT'S NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME COMPLETE ROUTE MUSICIANS?

AND I SAID, "YES, I CAN.” AND NOW, THIS IS THE FIFTH GENERATION OF MARIACHI AILA.

WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THIS WAS THE DIVERSITY.

I MEAN, THEY FIND THAT THEY LOVE, I MEAN, THIS MUSIC BECAUSE IT'S IN THEIR ROOTS, IT'S IN THEIR BLOOD, AND THEN THEY WANT TO JUST KEEP DOING IT.

- SO, I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE GUITARON FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW WITH THIS BAND, AND I JUST LOVE PLAYING THE MARIACHI MUSIC BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN I USED TO HEAR THEM FROM THE REST OF MY FAMILY THAT LIVES IN MEXICO.

- I GREW UP WITH IT.

I ALWAYS LISTEN TO IT, AND IT'S A PART OF MY CULTURE.

[SINGING] - I FEEL THAT MUSIC CAN TRANSFORM STUDENTS INTO GOOD PEOPLE.

I THINK IT TEACHES SKILLS THAT CAN MAKE THEM THRIVE THROUGH MANY OTHER SUBJECTS AND THROUGH LIFE IN GENERAL.

I UNDERSTAND WE GRADUATE ALL OF THEM EVENTUALLY, BUT I FEEL HAPPY.

YEAH, I'M GONNA MISS THEM, I DO KNOW.

I TOLD THEM, "I'M GONNA MISS YOU GUYS, BUT JUST I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO WELL IN ANY OTHER FIELDS YOU ARE DEVELOPING."

- I WANT TO AT LEAST GET A SCHOLARSHIP AND GO TO A GOOD COLLEGE.

AND I ALSO WANT TO GO ABROAD SOMEWHERE THAT MARIACHI HAS A BIG INFLUENCE AND PLAY WITH SOME OF THE MARIACHI GROUPS LIKE IN MEXICO.

[MUSIC] [CHEERING] [MUSIC]