We had a blast at our annual cross-country horse trip.
We spent the night in a cabin and navigated steep hills, sandy riverbeds, and even hiked into a slot canyon.
It was a great overnighter.
Some of the students seemed a little nervous about riding horses and guiding them on the right path, but all enjoyed galloping, trotting, and climbing hills by the end.
-Cam, TFL Director
The students were able to attend Salt Lake City’s FanX expo where they met many different characters from different games and shows.
Some were even lucky enough to meet a movie star!
It’s fun to see all the students different likes and interests when it comes to gaming, anime, etc…
-Eric, TFL Mentor
Classes have started once again at TFL, and it is getting busy around here.
Since the beginning of August, we have had three new students, one student graduate the program, and we just completed our annual Moab River trip.
This semester is going to be challenging but we are up for it!
In addition to our students who are taking classes at TFL, we also have three students who will be taking classes at DSU this semester.
Another student is still very involved in his apprenticeship gun smithing, and two additional students just begun or will be starting their apprenticeships this next week at GlitchBusters and BusyBusy.
As always, we are very proud of all of our students and the support we receive from parents, guardians, our mentors, and Educational Consultants.
TechieForLife wouldn’t be the same without each of you!
—Kristin, Program Director
TFL motto #3 “Out of our comfort zones but not overwhelmed.”
What a trip!!
Moab and the Colorado River are always a great mix.
We rafted on some pretty calm stretches for three days, with some fun rapids along the way.
It was hot and cool and beautiful.
It is so important for our students to do new and uncomfortable things, even if they never do that specific activity or trip again.
It comes down to brain activity and neuro-pathways.
If the brain can get used to building new pathways that are uncomfortable, different, and even a little anxiety causing, the brain can also learn to get out of comfort zones in other scary ways as well.
After doing some rapids and sleeping outdoors, it is a little easier to travel and interview for a job.
Don’t tell the students, but it was really nice to unplug for a few days and just enjoy each other and nature- it heals the soul and lifts the heart.
Doing hard things fits into what we all need to make it into successful adulthood and responsibility.
It builds confidence in ways no amount of talk therapy can do and gives tangible substance for our brains to believe that we are good enough.
Telling ourselves we are worthwhile just doesn’t carry the same weight as doing effective and functional things.
With confidence comes loss… doubt, fear, anxiety, depression and others.
Our students were pushed and they all did really well.
And I’m sure new neuro-pathways were formed:)
—Jason, TFL Executive Director
I felt the first real connection with my new Techie For Life family, and it made me proud to be a part of TFL.
We brought Roo (TFL’s emotional support dog) along, and he seemed to be having a blast, although he shivered a lot.
Cam helped some people move a giant inflatable flamingo across the reservoir.
We had some good laughs, and I feel like everyone seemed a bit more themselves than I had previously seen.
I like to think everyone else got to know me a little bit better as a result.
I definitely felt like I got to know Joseph better after we drove back.
—Astrid, TFL Student
This is a place that has a no kill policy and is responsible for over a thousand animals, including horses, pigs, birds, rabbits, dogs and cats.
We got to help in the sanctuary’s animal graveyard, called Angels Rest, and even got to participate in the burial of a rooster that had passed on from old age.
It was an interesting ceremony.
Afterwards, we helped in the dog section of the sanctuary.
There at Dog Town, we weeded a few sections of the place where the dogs live and then we got to play with a couple of them.
The next day we got to clean the cat houses and then more weeding of Dog Town.
I really enjoyed the experience but a couple of the students weren’t so enthusiastic about it. Eh, maybe next time, right?
—Lee, TFL Student
This is a shout out to our students.
This past week I had the opportunity to go with Jason and the students to volunteer at Best Friends sanctuary in Kanab.
While there we were asked to weed and level off some of the dog runs.
Everyone was working hard in the hot sun and it wasn’t long before we called it and the care takers brought out some dogs for us to interact with.
It was then I noticed that Eric and Joseph weren’t with the group yet.
It turns out they were bound and determined to finish off all the weeds in their run, which they did!
Instead of stopping then and there they continued to work and give, which I thought was amazing.
And this was but one specific moment.
There are many times and moments like these with our students day in and day out that make our jobs as mentors worth it.
—Josh, TFL Mentor
While volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the students stayed at Jason’s family cabin.
Some went mountain biking, many participated in target and skeet shooting, ziplining, swinging and of course everyone ate well.
We have a couple grill masters in our presence at TFL.
-Kristen, TFL Program Director
