Mentor Coordinator Report
Stories & Quotes To Share:
So Good to See You.
I witnessed many warm hugs and enthusiastic voices
exclaiming “It’s so good to see you!” “I missed you!” “I have so much to tell
you!” as mentors and students reconnected after the summer. As soon as school
started, students clamored “When is my mentor coming?” I created schedules as
quickly as possible, and actually had the first mentor into the building on Sept. 5 th , with
others rolling in soon after. I love seeing these reunions, which underscore how
much these relationships mean to both the students and the mentors.
Doing Life Together.
Mentoring and friendship continues after graduation for many
matches. This month I’ve heard from mentors who are sending care packages
and visiting graduates who are away at college. Another shared that she and her
23 year old mentee still meet every week and have been since her graduation.
Another shared that he and his graduated student are in regular contact and enjoy
being in a fantasy football league together. I called another mentor to see if she
wanted to take on a new student: She is reluctant to do so, because she wants to be
available for her graduated mentee as she transitions into adulthood and figures
out the next steps. She said they are “doing life together.”
Valuable Bond on Both Sides
Recently I had to have a closure meeting for a mentor and student were into their 4th
year together. The mentor had an opportunity to take on an important internship
for his career. He said he hesitated for quite a while; he knew if he took on the
internship he would have to step down from mentoring. He values the relationship
with his student and misses meeting each week.
Highlights:
Reconnecting matches
* Teaching other Coordinators at our fall training
* Several hours talking to people about mentoring at Septemberfest!
* Two New Mentor Orientations with several attendees in the process of
becoming mentors
Upcoming:
October 13/14 Mentor Equipping: Planning Beyond high school/college and career pathways
* October 21: New Mentor Orientation
Number of Current Matches: 68
Submitted by Lisa Reynolds – ReynoldsL@lynden.wednet.edu