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Helping out, one
by one
Students mentoring area youths
By Emily Stack
Collegian Reporter
Though there have been some recent changes
in staff, the One-on-One mentoring program continues to successfully
match underprivileged children with Christian role models.
This year, three new community members have
been added to the mentoring ranks and four new matches were
made.
"God always provides new mentors for
us," Director Christina Martinez said.
Working with their mentees proves to be a
many-faceted experience for many college mentors.
Sophomore Rebekah Smith has enjoyed watching
her mentee meet new people and experiences.
Earlier this year at the Civil War Ball, her
mentee peppered the violin player with questions. At the Gina
Relays, Smith had to discourage her mentee from going onto the
track to find out how the pole vault worked.
"She's so inquisitive and really smart,"
Smith said. "She loves music and always has so many questions
about it."
Senior Melinda Dille has also been rewarded
by her years mentoring in the program.
"It's someone you've invested yourself
in," she said. "[My mentee] craves attention and loves
to have a friend."
For sophomore Michael Kelleher, being a mentor
is not only rewarding but also fills a void in campus life.
"I come from a big family, and I've really
missed all the little kids," Kelleher said. "I like
reliving the older brother-ness."
The time and energy mentors put into building
relationships is satisfying on many levels.
Early in her mentoring relationship, Dille
and her mentee attended a Valentine's Day party hosted by the
program. On her card to Dille, her mentee said she had a new
best friend in Dille.
"It's daunting to think of yourself as
a role model for someone from a challenging background,"
Dille said. "But that small space of time meant more to
her than I could've imagined."
Every week, Smith and her mentee memorize
Bible verses together, writing them down on index cards and
coloring them to be hung on their walls.
Sometimes dealing with family situations can
be challenging to mentors. Dille has lost contact with her mentee
after the family moved away and did not leave any contact information.
Smith has noticed the difference in lifestyles
between her own family and her mentee's.
"Her family watches more TV than my family
does," Smith said.
She cites different priorities in home and
family life as the main difference.
The time commitment of an hour a week seems
small, but mentees often need hours of care and attention. This
prospect can be daunting to a busy college student.
"Sometimes I feel like, is this my time
best spent?" Kelleher said. "But that's the wrong
question to be asking."
Overall, Kelleher said he enjoys being supportive
of his mentee and exposing him to the college campus.
Mentors make mental lists about their mentees'
characteristics.
For instance, Smith knows her mentee loves
swimming, watching I Love Lucy and has a passion for pickles
from Oakley.
Kelleher jokes that his mentee is a Hillsdale
student-in-training because of his love for history and local
museums. Together, they swim, play checkers or read books.
For more information on the One-on-One program,
or to find out how to become a mentor, call Christina Martinez
at 439-8083.
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