“[It] builds self-esteem and character. Something that is lacking in the Austin community.” Parent
“What I like doing most with my mentor is when she sits down with me and ask me about my weekend, what’s going on in school, and lastly what I want to do the next time we meet again.” Mentee
“The mentoring program has contributed to my child’s life by allowing them to have interaction with another positive adult who wants to see them achieve their goals and become all that God has purposed for them.” Parent
This past school year has been a milestone year for the 1-to-1 Mentoring Program. Not only have we completed 6 years with the program, in the spring semester we surpassed the 50 Matches mark. There were afternoons in our building that you couldn’t find an empty meeting room because they were all being used by mentors and mentees. It is a wonderful problem to deal with. Because of that increase in mentoring relationships the Mentoring Program is expanding to add a large number of small offices that will become the meeting rooms for the mentors and mentees in the fall.
Significantly, of the 50 matches, 10 have lasted over 3 years with one of them lasting over 5 years. Additionally, seven more matches have lasted over 2 years (but less than 3). It has been very exciting and encouraging to watch the relationships between mentees and mentors develop and blossom. We know that the impact of the time they spend together will reap benefits for years to come.
Here are some responses from our mentors on how they have benefited from the Mentoring Program: “[It] teaches me to live as an example”, “I realize the impact my small “loaves and fishes” can have on another life, and how critical it is for students to have good role models”, “Being a mentor has caused me to do some real soul searching and to investigate what my faith means to me and how can I transfer it to my mentee without being overbearing”.
Please continue to pray for the Mentoring Program, that the relationships between the mentees and mentors will continue to bear fruit and bring encouragement. |
