[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s 5:30 a.m. and Hays High freshman cross country runner Kameron Welma gets up to start his day.
For some, getting up that early in the morning is enough extracurricular activity. For 15-year-old Kameron, it’s only a part of his interests and commitments.
An athletic trainer, “not waterboy,” miniature horse competitor, life scout, cross country runner and adrenaline junkie are just some of the roles he takes on when he’s not going through classes.
All of it is done without the benefit of sight. Kameron has been legally blind since birth.
However, Kameron has not made his visual impairment an obstacle to his life’s pursuits.
“He can do anything as long as he tries; mom and dad are not going to hold him back,” said Pete Welma, Kameron’s father and physical education teacher at Negley Elementary.
Kameron first found joy eight years ago when his parents loosened the reins on their son and began taking him to Little America Miniature Horses, a Buda area horse farm.
Founded by Tony Greaves and his family, the program teaches young people about upkeep and training of miniature horses for competition.
Kameron said he’s learned responsibility and discipline by working with the horses.
The fruits of his labor are on display in the form of silky red, blue, yellow and white ribbons lining parts of his bedroom walls. Horsehead trophies overflow on shelves and a display of silver belt buckles encased in glass are hanging on the wall.
Prior to high school, Kameron participated in 11 competitions a year; he’s only planning on participating in nine competitions this year, Pete said.
This past August he competed in the world Miniature Horse competition at Fort Worth, placing in the top ten in several competitions.
After years of participating in horse training, Kameron’s parents smile as they watch their son shape his own identity.
“It’s fun watching him go out and become his own person and do lots of fun stuff that I never had the nerve to do when I was a kid,” Jennifer Welma, Kameron’s mom and Hays CISD coordinator for special education instruction, said.
Through Boy Scouts, Kameron has also had the opportunity to accomplish many exciting ventures in activities, such as hiking through the swamps near New Orleans. He currently holds the rank of life scout in Troop 967 in Buda.
He’s planning on snorkeling and possibly scuba diving. This winter, Kameron signed up to go dog sledding near Minnesota and Canada.
“He’s bright; he has no fear. He just wants to try everything, and do everything regardless of his vision,” said Pete Welma.
Through scouts, Kameron is also planning a community project that, when completed, could earn him the rank of Eagle Scout.
Kameron drew inspiration for his project when his troop participated in a flag burning ceremony. The ceremony involved burning the flag in an old barbecue pit at the fire station. His project involves constructing a more permanent fire ring to properly retire the flag.
“When I went home at night and I was lying in bed, I thought, ‘You know, that is not very respectful to the flag, because people fight for our freedom. And people in the states don’t really know what it means to be over there, watching your friends …get hurt and stuff,” Kameron said.
He said he’s at the beginning stage of putting together his proposal.
“He’s bright; he has no fear. He just wants to try everything, and do everything regardless of his vision.”
Pete Welma, Kameron’s father
With all of the activities he’s taking part in, academics remains a priority, Kameron said.
In order to grasp what’s been written on the classroom board, his teachers take pictures of graphs or keys words, and send it to him via the Internet, where he can then access it through his iPad.
Surrounded by his friends and cross country teammates in class, they often lend him a hand when he needs it.
Unlike the adjustments he makes in the classroom, running cross country only requires him to do one thing, to “just go.” Kameron said.
Involvement in activities has opened doors for Kameron, as well as teaching responsibility, and has given him self-confidence and pride, Pete said.
But they also make sure Kameron is grounded, and his horseshoe is firmly placed, Jennifer Welma said.
Kameron ultimately aspires to be a veterinarian or a Texas game warden. He currently finds his Principles of Law and ROTC classes the most interesting.
But at school, Kameron said he tries to be just like every other student at Hays High.
“I never talk about (my vision),” Kameron said. “I’m just like everybody else.”
