What do you remember about your first day of school?
I remember trying to decide what new outfit I would wear, organizing my school supplies, and feeling excited to see my friends! My husband remembers feeling nervous, scared, and sick. You see, I attended school in the same town, grades K-12, I had stability and knew what to expect. My husband frequently moved, often times he attended multiple schools in the same school year, he started each year with fear and uncertainty.
Unfortunately, many children have experiences similar to my husband. They may not have new clothes or any of the required list of school supplies. They may be walking in to a school that is only a few miles from their last one, and yet, all they see is strangers, they do not even know where to find the restroom or the cafeteria. I can only imagine how alone they may feel.
Although my heart feels heavy for these kids, I also know there can be a silver lining. A mentor! A mentor that will drive those few extra miles to visit their mentee. Suddenly, there is a familiar face, there is someone that will help make sure they get lunch and know where the restroom is. Most importantly, they have at least 1 friend. For many of our kids a mentor is the only constant in their life. In the words of one of our mentees”:
“I just feel like he has been a big help all of my life. Being with him has been someone I can get to know really well and trust with a lot of stuff. He is a really good mentor and I hope I can have him until I am really old. I don’t think I will ever grow tired of him either. I have always enjoyed his company. To him, I would say thank you for everything in my whole life. You have helped support me for 5 years, and that is a pretty big, crazy thing. Whenever I make friends they don’t stick around long because I move. So, you are my best friend and I thank you for all of your help.”
Powerful, isn’t it?
As we begin a new school year, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary! As part of this celebration we are hoping to grow our mentor base. We are asking you, our mentors and friends, to consider who you know that would make a great mentor. For information on becoming a mentor visit our webpage www.mentoringnetworkid.org and select “Become a Mentor”. We believe every single child deserves a trusted friend, we are depending on each of you to help us make that dream a reality.
— Marci Silva Board Chair
The Mentoring Network Inc.
www.MentoringNetworkID.org
One hour, once a week, transforms lives
