YOUTH SPOTLIGHT: Tatum talks Thrive365 leadership

Tatum Rosales, Cotton Valley Charter School student has a packed calendar. At just 14-years-old, Rosales’ resume already includes 4-H club president, Socorro County Council vice president, Cottonwood Charter School student council president, Warrior swim team and Lady Warrior softball player, San Miguel Church youth group member, and an active participant in the Socorro SCOPE Health Council’s Thrive 365 Youth Council.

Despite being involved in so many activities, Rosales remains connected to the Rosales family farm in Lemitar, which is not only the backdrop of her life, but a grounding presence for the teen. Even with adulthood several years off, she imagines herself becoming an inspirational speaker or agricultural extension agent one day.

“Our farm has been in the family for over 50 years,” she said. “It holds so many memories. I think that’s why I stay connected to it — it’s a big part of who I am.”

That connection led Rosales to 4-H, where she has shown beef and swine for the past six years. She has been president for four of those years, and was treasurer for the two prior.

“I kind of grew up around 4-H. It not only brings opportunities to me, but it inspires me to keep going for the ones I’ve lost,” Rosales said. “My cousin Thomas Rosales had a big impact on my life. Even though I lost him in 2021, I can still feel him cheering me on in the show ring every year.”

Rosales said 4-H has taught her leadership skills, patience and confidence. “You can’t just walk into a ring and expect your pig to listen,” she said. You’ve got to walk them every day, be patient, and learn to deal with frustration.”

Through the Thrive 365 youth group at SCOPE, Rosales and her peers are learning how to address issues like mental health, substance abuse, and bullying. She said anyone is welcome to stop in to hang out or talk, and that it’s like a mini teen center with games and activities.

“We meet every Thursday and talk about what’s going on in our community. We’ve made PSAs on suicide prevention, and we do something called Do Be Nice where we honor someone in our group who’s made an impact. It’s all about making people feel seen and appreciated,” Rosales said.

Rosales first got involved with Thrive 365 after a coordinator visited her school for a life skills class.

“She handed out cards one day. I checked it out and have been coming ever since,” she said.

The Thrive group even went to a national youth leadership conference in Arizona in 2024.

“It was incredible — I met people from all over the country. It really opened my eyes to how many youth are doing amazing things,” Rosales said.

Rosales’ passion for the work SCOPE and Thrive 365 are doing is personal. She said she struggled with depression for years before finding the right tools for her, to bring herself out of it.

“I wrote an essay about what I went through. I want other kids to know they’re not alone — that they can get through it,” the teen said.

Whether it’s helping out on the farm, leading a community meeting, or just lending an ear to someone who needs it, Rosales is determined to make an impact. “I just want to inspire people, especially kids like me who might be struggling.”

Rosales encourages others her age to find something — or someone — that helps them feel connected. Her advice to others is finding the right person to talk to: “For me, it took time, but I did. And now, I want to be that person for others.”