Mountains, Memories, and Goodbyes: A Reflective Day at Sabino Canyon
Greetings, everyone. My name is Shuja Irteza, a Junior in Cyber Engineering, and this marks my second ABST trip and first one as a Student Leader.
The morning sun filtered softly through the desert air as we arrived at the Pio Decimo Center. The air was crisp, tinged with the scent of dry earth and the quiet hum of a waking city. Our task was to install security slats in the fences — a small but meaningful act to safeguard the children who played within its walls. None of us had done this before, and the grommets were stubborn, resisting our efforts with quiet defiance. But we pressed on, learning the rhythm together — the sharp click of metal, the quiet murmur of teamwork, the satisfaction when a slat finally settled into place.
This was our last service day, and there was a quiet weight to the air as we said goodbye. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor stood with warm smiles; their eyes soft with gratitude. John Lohse, our host and a proud Gannon alumnus, clapped me on the shoulder. Just before we left, they surprised us with a feast — pizza, pasta and breadsticks from Pizza Hut. We sat together, the air filled with laughter and the easy warmth of shared accomplishment.
The day, however, was not over. After finishing at Pio Decimo, we drove to Sabino Canyon for one last adventure. Sabino Canyon was otherworldly — a quiet expanse of rugged mountains and stoic cactuses stretching toward the horizon. We climbed higher and higher, the trail winding through clusters of desert trees and jagged rocks. The view from the top was staggering — golden light pouring over the canyon, the earth painted in hues of rust and amber. Cactuses stood like sentinels against the sky, and the air felt thin and sharp, laced with a quiet hum of eternity. A shuttle carried us deeper into the canyon, the windows framing a moving portrait of nature’s raw, unyielding beauty.
There was one moment that stayed with me. After the work was done, Mrs. Taylor pulled me aside. She smiled softly and said, ” I now know why they chose you as a leader. You lead by example.” Her words sank into me like sunlight warming cold skin. Leadership is not something I’ve ever sought recognition for — it’s just something I try to live by. To have someone see that, to name it aloud, felt like the quiet unlocking of a door I hadn’t even known was closed.
The day closed with that feeling — of quiet understanding, of growth wrapped in the simplicity of shared work and quiet words. It was a day of endings and beginnings, the kind that settles into your bones and stays there long after the moment has passed.
