Bobcat Stories

We were so excited to see Lela Beer, class of 2017, who recently came back to visit Bosque! ⁠⁠

Lela took some time to share with us how Bosque School helped shape her, and she gave us an update on what she's doing now.⁠

Bosque taught me many things for which I am deeply grateful. This unique institution emphasized that learning comes from experience and from grit and determination found in all aspects of life, not just within the classroom. It encouraged me to question both what I learn and how I acquire knowledge. Rooted in a philosophy of community, compassion, and contemplation, Bosque helped shape who I am today—and I am proud of that. I will forever be a flora and fauna enthusiast, a connoisseur of the fine arts, an apprentice of ancient and romantic languages, a quirky public speaker, an empathetic leader, and most importantly, a Bobcat. 

In true Bosque fashion, I paved my own academic path. I am especially grateful for my liberal arts education, particularly the foundational skills I developed while preparing my senior thesis on experiential learning. That work led me to explore eco-therapy, the benefits of green spaces, the bioethics of prehospital medicine, and austere and high-altitude medicine, among other topics. 

Since my time at Bosque, I have pursued a wide range of experiences. I completed an honors program at Northern Arizona University focused on the Colorado Plateau, where I had the opportunity to raft the Grand Canyon and backpack through that majestic landscape. Using the EMT license I earned through dual credit while serving as an MRC community service member, I worked on an ambulance during COVID-19, spent time as a ski patroller at Arizona Snowbowl, and continue that work at Hoodoo in Sisters, Oregon. I earned my undergraduate degree in biomedical science, with minors in philosophy and chemistry, which led me to complete my master’s degree in Atlanta, Georgia. I now practice as a physician associate in rural Oregon. 

It has been surreal to return to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to visit my brother and meet my new niece. Reconnecting with old friends, walking the halls of my former school, and speaking with the faculty who helped shape me has been incredibly meaningful. I am deeply appreciative of my time at Bosque and grateful that my family was able to provide me with such an opportunity.