Student starts army career as junior (Mireya senior feature)
By Bree De Waal
Mireya Palasio-Rocha, senior, loves helping those in need, especially children.
She plans to go to college in Colorado, but she has yet to make up her mind on the University of Colorado Boulder or the University of Northern Colorado.
Mireya would like to go to college to major in sociology and work with children as a social worker.
Her passion for helping children goes beyond just a career choice.
“I usually do fundraisers for kids in Ghana and in Mexico. Last year, we managed to send clothes to Mexico and school supplies to Ghana,” said Palasio-Rocha.
She said that after she helps children she feels good because helping kids in need is something harmless. You do not benefit but you help others benefit.
Her goals this year are to stay healthy and keep her GPA up.
Mireya has experienced many big challenges and has overcome them. One of them was when she was in basic training for three months. She had never spent that much time away from home.
“Basic training was mentally and physically tough especially when I couldn’t speak to my family. It was a frightening challenge,” said Mireya.
Mireya said that basic training was 20% physical and 80% mental.
“The hardest part was being alone and having no one to motivate you or keep you going. You were responsible for your own motivation,” said Palasio.
“I had to keep my own purpose to keep going and finish,” she said.
At basic training, they managed her time in a 24-hour format. Her schedule included: wake up at 5 a.m. every morning, 5:30 was first formation, from 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. was physical training, and from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. was breakfast and personal hygiene. She went on to do what the drill sergeants had planned for the day. This is when she would do hands-on activities. Some examples are obstacle courses, shooting at the range, or learning medical assistance. She usually ate lunch around noon but sometimes it was later. After lunch, she would finish whatever was planned by the drill sergeant. At around 5:30 p.m. or around 7:30 p.m. she would go back to the compound. She ate dinner right after they got back to the compound. She had last formation around 8 p.m. and she would go to bed at around 9 p.m. She did this everyday for three months while she was at basic training.
Mireya has more training she has to complete with the Army this summer before she can go to college.
As of right now her plan is to attend a college in Colorado in the fall of 2021 with hopes to get her bachelor’s degree in Sociology to work as a social worker.
Mireya is an E2 is the Army, which is a private that is in training or on her first assignment. Her job is a medical logistics specialists. The medical logistics specialist is responsible for receiving, storing, recording, and issuing Army medical supplies.
Mireya’s strongest motivation is her family and she looks up to her parents, because they work hard to provide for her siblings and herself. They are also wonderful supporters.
In the next few years of her life, her biggest priority is to be successful.
“Being successful in an unselfish way is what I focus on everyday. If I begin to slack on this priority I manage to catch up and get back on my role,” said Palasio.
Senior, Kattie Wurm close friend of Mireya described her as a fierce, loyal, independent, smart, daring young lady.
Wurm also said that she admires Mireya’s determination and willingness to prove people wrong when they don't believe in her. She also said Mireya is a hard worker and that she will do well in her career choice.
The two seniors have many enjoyable memories together. Kattie’s favorite memory was when the two toilet-papered senior Kobe Tice’s house.
High school English teacher, Traci Price, said that Mireya is dedicated, out-spoken, and fun-loving.
As a student, she said Mireya always wants to do her best and excels in her classes. She has an even balance of dedication and determination along with allowing time to enjoy her life with family and friends.
A memory that Price enjoys that includes the senior is all the silly girl “fights” that would occur between the few girls throughout middle school. It was hard to keep up with who was on the ‘outs’ on any particular day.
“She always seems to be able to absorb and deal with whatever life throws at her in a calm and collected manner. Nothing seems to bother her, at least on the surface,” said Ms. Price.