An unexpected thanks came my way yesterday and was a day brightener! I teach academics to juvenile inmates at our county jail. I was in the jail lobby waiting to be escorted. Normally I have to wait only a few minutes, but yesterday it was an hour! The longer I was waiting, the more frustrated I felt.
I watched a young gentleman enter the lobby and immediately recognized his face. Josh. I tutored Josh a few years ago when he was suspended from school. He was very vulgar, put on a tough act and constantly challenged anything I tried to teach him. In time, he mellowed out some and I actually enjoyed working with him. As a reward for getting assignments done, Josh and I would play “Five Crowns”. While we played the card game, Josh would share a little about his upbringing and the many different homes that he lived in. His suspension ended and I knew that he was headed to California for the summer.
Josh nodded at me and asked if I was the lady who taught him at the community center. I nodded “yes” in response. He wanted to know why I was sitting in the jail lobby. So I told him that I’m a teacher at the jail now. He then stepped over to the receptionist’s window and inquired about getting an I.D. picture taken. While Josh was talking, an older man entered the lobby and stood in line behind him.
An officer finally came out to escort me and I heard Josh holler, “Wait! Wait!” I turned and gave him a puzzled look. Josh then said, “I know I gave you a lot of grief when you taught me. I also know you were stubborn and didn’t give up on me. I have changed a lot and I’m really getting my life on track. Umm…thanks for teaching me.” The older gentleman smiled and put his arm around Josh and said, “Yes, thank you. I feel like I have my grandson back. He’s turning into a fine young man.”
I told Josh that I was proud of him and that I hope he continues to go after his dreams. As the officer escorted me to the classroom, he said, “It makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it?” And he’s right…seeing a life changed, certainly makes it all worthwhile and it even made having to wait an hour worth it.
So, have you told someone thank you lately? I know I have a few people I want to contact.
Listen to your heart…
Posts Tagged ‘mentoring’
An Unexpected Thanks
Saturday, November 21st, 2009Tags: emotions, heart, mentoring, reunite
Posted in Readers stories, Reunion Stories | 16 Comments »
Consider Mentoring
Monday, November 16th, 2009Want to have a positive impact on a child’s or teen’s life? Want to experience the joy of seeing a boy hit a baseball for the first time, a girl read an entire book without errors, or a teen give up smoking? You can make the difference in someone’s life!
Each one of us has interests and talents that can be shared with someone else. If you love to read, then consider being a Literacy Volunteer or volunteer in a classroom to assist students who need extra help. Really good at baking? Teach a group of girls how to make a scrumptious pie or yummy cinnamon rolls. Love to camp? Volunteer to go on a camping trip with the local Boy Scouts. Not only will you be helping someone, you will feel good for doing so!
In the United States, 2.4 million children under the age of 12, go home from school to an empty house. Quite often these kids attempt to do homework on their own and may be responsible for fixing dinner or babysitting their siblings. Is there a family in your neighborhood who could use your help? Perhaps it’s a single mom who is working a minimum wage job. Why not offer to assist the kids with their homework during the week?
Some other possibilities…Big Brother/Big Sister program, Sunday School teacher, after school intramural sports, community center, children’s home, public library, or a youth center. As with any type of volunteering, you may need to go through an orientation or workshop before you can work with children.
Over the past few years I have been tutoring Ashleigh. In second grade, Ashleigh was having difficulties with reading comprehension and math. I worked with her on different strategies to remember what she read and we did a lot of math games. In fourth grade, Ashleigh was shy in class. We did some silly roleplaying and Ashleigh now loves to stand in front of her peers to give reports. Ashleigh is now in middle school and we work on homework together three times a week. When she easily whizzes through an assignment, she laughs at my “go girl” dance step. When she becomes frustrated with a new math concept, we turn it into fun with a math game. We giggle as we sip on McDonald’s chocolate milkshakes and she knows I listen to her when she talks about going to her dad’s for part of the week. Ashleigh is pulling all 90’s in her subjects. Her mother is thrilled and Ashleigh is proud of herself. I feel blessed–not because of her success, but because of the joy she brings into my life.
So, something to consider. If you have a couple of hours to spare, there’s an “Ashleigh” who needs you!
Listen to your heart…
Tags: family, mentoring, relationships, volunteer
Posted in Readers stories, Reunion Stories | 2 Comments »
