Lee Cabeza de Vaca,
A Hero In Our Midst

After leaving his profession as a teacher, Lee was very satisfied with his position with the New Mexico Department of Vocational Rehabilitation but still felt that there was something missing in his life.

“That something,” he now knows, “was interacting with children.”

Lee remembered growing up with the love and support of two male role models, his dad and his grandfather. “What they showed and taught me shaped the man I have become. I wanted to share what my father and grandfather gave me by being a mentor.”

No one could have expected, however, that the pairing of Lee with a 10-year-old boy named Jason would develop into the lasting friendship that it has become.

When the two first met in August of 2000, Jason was reticent and withdrawn. Lee quickly stepped in as a positive male role model.

Within a few weeks, Lee noticed a change in Jason. He became more talkative, more interested in the activities the two did together, which included gardening, building rockets, and riding bikes. As time passed and their relationship developed Jason grew more comfortable in opening up to Lee.

“I believe that the foundation of our relationship is based on trust. Early in our relationship I worked hard to overcome Jason’s trust issues by being consistent in action and deed,” Lee explained.

Throughout the many changes that Lee and Jason experienced over the years, neither individual has let distance come between the two. Jason admits, “Lee is reliable. If he says he will do something I know that I can count on him to do it.”

Similarly, Lee has been able to adapt to his teenage friend’s new interests. While the pair used to ride bikes once or twice a week, Jason is now, unsurprisingly, more interested in cars. Lee says the two “spend time looking at cars, attending car shows, and driving around. It is during these drives when Jason and I talk about school, problems, and dreams.”

Jason does not see Lee as an authority figure but rather as a trusted friend. “As a friend he has picked me up when I needed to talk, he knows when to listen and gives me advice that doesn’t sound like it is coming from an adult.”

That advice has paid off. Recently, Jason considered dropping out of school. Lee encouraged him to keep going and Jason is now working on getting his diploma from a charter school in Santa Fe.

“Because of Lee I see that getting my education is how I can be an architect or a city planner. I want to do big things like design a building or plan the roads, parks, and housing developments for a large city.”

For all that he has given Jason, Lee still feels like he is the lucky one. “I feel it is I who should be giving Big Brothers Big Sisters an award of appreciation for matching me with Jason.”

This selfless attitude has allowed Lee to navigate the evolving, and at times challenging, relationship he has with his friend Jason, who has matured into an outgoing, smart, and gregarious young adult.

“It’s been a lot of give and take on both our parts,” Lee says about their friendship, “It’s seeing that this is beneficial for both of us, that we’re both getting something out of it. At times I can see I’m having an impact on his life, and he definitely has an impact on my life.”