How to be a good mentor
It made me
Overjoyed 
"It fills my heart with joy to know that I did something amazing for another human being who never even asked."
How I did it: It was easy!
- I started working with a great organization called the Seedling Foundation. http://www.seedlingfoundationtx.org/
- Also there is Big Brothers and Big Sisters
- I found out that you don't really have to do ANYTHING special, just give your time, commit to doing it for 1 year and be there EVERY week when you say you are going to be there. It's not hard. And it feels great.
- I made a commitment to visiting my mentee 1 day per week and STUCK TO IT!
When I found out from a person that worked with United Way that city planners decide on how big to build prisons by reviewing the 3rd grade reading level, I decided I needed to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING to help. Educators need all the help they can get! I just couldn't believe that from looking at the 3rd grade reading level in the area, they are able to deduce what size prison they should build. That fact SCARED the pants off me. So I looked into mentoring and found Seedling. They will guide you in every step of the process, including choosing a child for you and giving you some short, easy training. I knew that if I could just make a difference in one child's life that I would feel better. And it comes down to that. Sometimes you can't be everything to everyone but you can be something to someone.
Lessons & tips: Find an organization, work with them to get (short) training and go see your mentee every week! 1 hour per week. Don't worry if you feel like you have nothing to teach or give. You really do. Just by showing up you are the gift. Don't buy them gifts. You are the gift. Just by showing up you are a gift.
Resources: Seedling Foundation's handbook.
People doing this:
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Berkeley
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Telford
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Charlotte
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Washington, D.C.
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