In Their Own Words
Volunteer mentors in the Creative Mentoring program were asked to share their stories. Our mentors, whether just beginning or continuing a long-term commitment to mentoring, provide amazing perspective into the world of being a Creative Mentor. Read what our mentors have to say about their various personal experiences and the benefits of mentoring.
Clement B. Nettles Clement is a long-time mentor with 15 years of experience to his credit! He is currently mentoring a boy at North Dover Elementary School. For Clement, the main benefit of mentoring is “the continual satisfactions of helping a young student to learn to realize a goal or vision for himself.” He says that he has already seen a change in his current mentee: “growth in his self-confidence and a willingness to take on challenges.”
In Clement's Own Words: “I mentor because I love to first of all, and secondly I feel that I can help some young child develop to their fullest potential. I continue to mentor . . . for the good feelings that you derive from making a connection with a young person. . . As a retired federal employee and retired Navy man, I could be doing a lot of things other than mentoring, but I choose to mentor for the personal satisfaction I get from doing it."
"Passing along a little love and learning to a child that can use it is the least that I can do at this stage of my life.”
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Katie Harrington Katie is a mentor at North Dover Elementary School. She has been a mentor to a girl there for two years. Katie describes how she got involved: “I was looking for a way to become more involved in my community and make a difference. I learned that North Dover needed mentors. I jumped on the chance, and I am so glad that I did.”
In Katie’s Own Words: "I look forward to seeing my mentee every week, and I think she feels the same. Her teacher says that she has seen an improvement in her work and that makes me feel great inside. When I first started working with my mentee, we were both pretty shy and didn’t talk very much. Things are very different now, she starts talking the minute she is out of her classroom. Her teachers have all said that she participates more in class than she used to and she interacts with her peers more. I look forward to seeing her smiling face every week. Even if I’m having a bad day, she makes the day worth it!!!”
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Jaimée Urell Jaimée has been a mentor for 16 years! She says that she had a very positive first experience mentoring and really enjoyed the connection she made with the kids. She says, “I noticed that the time we spent together made a difference.” At present, Jaimée mentors a little boy whom she mentored for the past 4 years.
In Jaimée’s Own Words: “We have a great time together and he confides in me and asks my opinion when he needs a new perspective on an issue. My best memory with him was when he had a rough day at football practice and got benched for fighting. The next day he told me about it and he said ‘I know it was wrong to fight. Can I get your advice on how I should handle it so that I don't spend the whole season on the bench?’”
“I still keep the Christmas ornaments and cards that my mentees give me and hang them on my tree. I love the reminders of all of the children that I have been blessed to work with these past 16 years.”
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Kim Best Kim is a first year mentor at the Delaware School for the Deaf, where she mentors one child.
In Kim’s Own Words: “There are many children who need a stable adult to share their experiences with. At DSD some students are living in the dorm and don’t have much contact with their family so having a mentor gives them a sense of someone who cares about them and what happens to them.”
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David Stepnowski David has been a mentor to a boy at Claymont Elementary School for six months. He says, “even though we are only together thirty minutes each week, my mentee seems to enjoy this time.” David has never had any children of his own and also enjoys this time with his mentee who, he explains, “is not really as shy now as he was when we first met.” During their short time together, David says he has “seen an improvement in his openness.”
In David’s Own Words: “I enjoy giving back when I can.”
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Ellen Feingold A mentor at P.S. DuPont Elementary School, Ellen says, “Eating lunch with my mentee is the highlight of my week and I suspect it is hers too.” Ellen has been mentoring for 3 years but has been with her current mentee at for two years. She has stayed with her mentee as she moved to different schools and says “next year, we’ll continue together.” According to Ellen, her mentee “seems more confident in reading and math all the time,” and she is grateful to her school mentoring coordinator who she says “provides us with materials each week which never fail to interest my mentee.”
In Ellen’s Own Words: “I am watching Shirley grow up.”
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Jelena Cirakovic A mentor to two boys at Highlands Elementary School, Jelena has been mentoring for just four months. Though it hasn’t been long, she exclaims, “I love the boys I mentor!” She feels that she is “building a bond” with both of her mentees and she is excited to see that “their reading skills have improved, as well as math.”
In Jelena’s Own Words: “I find tremendous joy when I spend time with them. I think they appreciate the time we spend together . . . One of them told me it was his lucky day when I became his mentor. It made my day.”
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Zachary Mellinger Zachary has been mentoring for two years and currently spends time with a student at Kirk Middle School. “It is a lot of fun just to meet with mentees and hear their stories,” he explains. Besides the fun, Zachary says he mentors because, “it is also great to give back or help others as I have been helped in the past.”
In Zachary’s Own Words: "I feel the mentees give me a greater perspective on life outside of my schooling and work, and I feel I can help them by seeing the picture of where they are heading and the opportunities that are out there for them.”
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Bharat Patel Bharat mentors a student at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and has been a mentor for 2 years.
In Bharat’s Own Words: “I enjoy providing positive influence to kids in need. Also, I myself learn a lot from young and curious minds. It brings a world of joy when I see a young child smile.”
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Miriam L. Parkhurst Miriam has really enjoyed spending time with her mentee. She has been mentoring for 2 years. She is currently mentoring one student at North Georgetown Elementary School. She has made a genuine connection with her mentee: “He makes me feel so good inside.”
In Miriam’s Own Words: “I enjoy spending time with my mentee and sharing with him. Just a smile makes my day. We play games together and talk about our families and pets. We also like to talk about what we do in our spare time. I bake cookies for him, his favorite of course.”
