Champion Mindset

Youth Rally teaches teens lifelong tips to derail stress and live like a champion

Story and photos by Dianna Troyer

How do you derail inevitable stress throughout life?

“There are ways for you to pump the brakes on stress,” says Karrie Carnes, public affairs specialist with Bonneville Power Administration. “You can use these tips the rest of your lives.”

Karrie, a certified yoga teacher trained to deal with trauma, shared stress management tips with Raft River teens who were among 79 participants attending the weeklong Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association Youth Rally in July at Northwest Nazarene College.

The youth rally helps foster the next generation of leaders and encourages teens to understand what leadership is truly about: doing the right thing at the right time, making the tough call, accepting responsibility, and saying no to the poisons of the world while saying yes to yourself.

Teens sponsored by Raft River Rural Electric Co-op were returning director Thomas Harper, Ashlee Christensen, Kianah Aguilar, Taylor Herring and Trevor Bankhead.

To relieve stress and anxiety, Karrie taught teens an exercise called five things—name five things you can see, four things you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell and one you can taste.

Students also practiced box breathing.

“Inhale for a count of four, then hold your breath at the top of the inhale for a count of four,” she says. “Then exhale for a count of four, and then hold at the bottom of the exhale for a count of four.”

Another speaker, Ben Kjar, told teens to be themselves.

“God created you to shine with your unique skills and talents,” he says. “Life happens when you are yourself.”

Born with Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting the growth of his skull bones, Ben endured painful facial reconstructive surgeries and taunts from his peers about his irregular features.

His mother advised him to be “a victor, not a victim.”

Taking her advice, Ben became a champion. He was a three-time state champion wrestler in high school, an All-American at Utah Valley University and an alternate for the 2012 U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

Wanting to share his wrestling tips and to encourage youth, Ben opened a training center in Woods Cross, Utah.

To help keep his perspective when facing challenges, Ben wrote an affirmation. He taught it to the teens, who echoed each line as he led them in a chant:
“Now, I choose me.
I make a difference.
I fight for light.
I ignite extraordinary.
Now watch me.
Defy the odds.
I am a victor.
I was born to stand out.
Stand out.
Stand out.”

Other speakers covered various topics. Teens were advised on personal finance and how to set a budget to save money.

Peers from a local detention center described their struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and encouraged participants to make healthy choices in life.

Greg Lindsay, an investigator with the Idaho Office of the Attorney General specializing in internet crimes against children, advised teens to be cautious of who they communicate with online.

Shauna Sauer described the lingering impact of her daughter, Taylor, dying in an automobile accident in 2012 because she was texting about the Broncos playing in the Super Bowl. She launched a “Don’t Let Your Send Be the End” campaign.

Participants also learned about electric co-ops, careers within the utility industry, the basics of electricity, watched a safety demonstration, toured the Idaho Capitol, performed in a talent show, spent a day at a water park, attended a formal banquet and dance, earned scholarships and made lifelong friendships.

Be You

Raft River teens shared the insights they gleaned from speakers and how they plan to be themselves with their careers.

Ashlee plans to study journalism and art. To express her creativity, she paints windows during holidays for businesses in Malta, Burley and Twin Falls.

“It’s really fun for me,” she says. “I mainly do Thanksgiving and Christmas, or if they want more painted at other times of year, I’ll do that, too.”

After learning about co-op careers, Kianah says being a field technician appeals to her.

“I like the idea of keeping things working and admire that linemen go out in all kinds of weather to fix lines,” she says. “Another interesting career is being a lineman coordinator.”

Taylor plans to become a dental assistant. Referring to Shauna’s talk, she says, “It was scary and super sad.” She reminds others not to text and drive.

Trevor says the rally provided him with hands-on insights about what his lineworker father, Tracy, does during his workday.

“I like meeting others in small towns who have similar backgrounds to mine,” Trevor says. “I fish, trap, and hunt elk and deer, so I plan to earn a degree in wildlife management.”

Thomas gave a presentation about representing Idaho at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., in June.

He was among 2,061 youth delegates, chaperones and staff from 44 states who participated in the NRECA annual weeklong summer event. They toured museums, historical sites, national monuments, the Pentagon, capitol and federal offices to learn about U.S. history and government policies.

“Those sites especially gave me a full appreciation of the sacrifices people have made for our country,” Thomas says. “I’m grateful for what they’ve done.”

Throughout the ICUA Youth Rally, observers scored students for participation, communication, personal growth and leadership. At the end of the week, outstanding achievement awards and scholarships totaling more than $12,000 were awarded based on each student’s individual scores.