Youth Spotlight: Addisyn will always find her way back

For Addisyn Fassett, 17, senior year is more than a milestone — it’s the culmination of a lifelong journey through hard work, community involvement, and personal growth. A resident of Socorro, Fassett has found herself in several youth communities, including 4-H, cross country, drama, and leadership roles at the county and state level.

Now wrapping up her final year of high school through online education with Connections Academy, Fassett is anticipating her next chapter: college at Fort Lewis in Durango, Colorado, where she plans to study political science.

“I’m interested in political science because it has so many different applications,” she said. “It’s a degree that can open doors to a lot of careers, and I’m excited to explore those options.”

Fassett’s interest in public affairs and leadership can be traced back to her early days in 4-H, a program she joined in third grade. Over the years, she’s raised goats, pigs, and chickens, but it’s the leadership and communication skills she developed that have had a lasting impact.

In 2022, Fassett served as the State 4-H Entomology Ambassador, a role that allowed her to teach youth across New Mexico about insects while also stepping into larger leadership responsibilities. “That was one of the first times I got to see the Roundhouse,” Fassett said. “We also went to Washington, D.C., and I got to present to the EPA about children’s health and climate change.”

Her presentation focused on the Eagle Picher Carefree Battery Superfund site in New Mexico and how improper waste management can negatively impact children’s health — a subject she researched and connected to broader environmental concerns. “That was a really meaningful experience,” she said. “I learned how to take my local knowledge and share it on a national stage.”

Despite being bold today, Fassett describes herself as a shy child who used to hide behind her dad’s legs. “Public speaking was ter

rifying,” she said. “But 4-H gave me the tools and confidence to find my voice.”

That voice carried her through a number of leadership positions in her county and state, where she helped organize events like Ag Explorer Day and 4-H banquets.

When she wasn’t leading workshops or tending livestock, Fassett was running cross country — a five-year journey that began in eighth grade at the height of the pandemic. “We had to run 5Ks in masks,” she said. “At the start, I couldn’t even run for a minute without walking. But with the support of my coach, Beth Cadol, I learned to set and reach goals at my own pace.”

Fassett also made a home in the theater department at Socorro High School. After switching to online schooling two years ago, she found herself with more time to explore creative outlets and joined the drama program. What began with a small role in a school play soon turned into a full-fledged passion for costuming.

She was head of costume design for the production Death by Design, even juggling two roles onstage due to a shortage of cast members. “Costume changes, fake bodies, designing suits — it was crazy,” she said. “But I loved every second.”

Even as she prepares to age out of 4-H this year, Fassett’s commitment to agriculture and leadership remains firm. She’s not sure yet whether she’ll return to 4-H in an official capacity — perhaps as an intern or volunteer — but she knows she’ll find her way back to the community