Tag Archives: Mentoring

Never Underestimate the Power of a Role Model

Our family decided to hire a college exchange student from Korea through an au pair agency. I had initially been hesitant, longing for more cultural exchange with Koreans but fearing that I would be judged on my parenting skills, or that someone from another culture might be prejudiced against adoption in some way. Meg herself told us she didn’t want us to get a Korean au pair. (We’ve had two previous au pairs from Brazil, whom Meg loved.) But we thought that having a role model of a young Korean woman would be good for Meg’s self-esteem, so we took … Continue reading →

Helping Foster Care Teens Grow Up

My last blog talked about a problem most people rarely think about: the high rates of homelessness, unemployment, dropping out of school before gaining a diploma, and unplanned pregnancy found among older teens who suddenly stop being cared for by the foster care system once they turn 18. Many 18-year-olds are still in high school. Many more foster youth will not finish on time because of difficulties caused by changing schools due to frequent foster care moves. One agency providing tutoring to foster children estimated that their clients’ reading levels were 5-6 years behind their age—this means an 18-year-old reading … Continue reading →

Are You an Inspiration?

We are not all interested in being role models or mentors–I know that for a fact. But, you might be surprised to find that you and your small, inconspicuous home-based business are, in fact, an inspiration. Does this mean you have to behave differently just because you are influencing others? I am not someone who puts much thought into being a positive role model for anyone and I tend to think of myself as a young, bumbling kid–not someone who could ever be in a position to serve as a mentor to anyone else. So, I am surprised when someone … Continue reading →

Black Males Are Lagging Academically

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A school board member at Houston’s largest school system has noticed the discouraging state statistics showing that African American males are lagging behind all other demographic groups academically. He checked the records in Houston and found that black males were scoring at or near the lowest levels in every course and at every grade level. This fact is something that almost everyone in educational circles knows, but few are actually talking about. He has a plan to try and turn the situation around in Texas. His plan is called the Texas Minority Male Youth Initiative. He hopes to stir up … Continue reading →

Personality Traits You Must Have to Work From Home

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I originally mentioned I was going to write this blog last month in this blog but I got sidetracked and never actually covered the topic. This is in direct violation of my third principle (see below) “You Must Be Organized.” Just remember: Do as I say, not as I do. 😉 Here is that list of personality traits you must have to work from home, in no particular order: You Have to be a Go-Getter. You cannot just sit back and expect people to come running to you with jobs. You have to put a resume together. You have to … Continue reading →

Tips for Reaching out for Help

I remember when I went through my divorce. For some reason, one of the hardest things for me was reaching out and asking for help. I felt that I needed to be independent, handling everything myself. However, I soon discovered that I couldn’t do it all no matter how hard I tried. I also learned that by reaching out for help, my children were being provided with a valuable life lesson. The first thing that you need to understand is that you are not now nor will you ever be perfect, which is actually okay. By that, I mean stop … Continue reading →

MEN TORch the Chance of Boys Becoming Non-Violent Men

Come on men. Where are you? Our boys are in trouble. There are not enough male mentors signing up to mentor our collective sons. I have been involved in training mentors for young people since 2000. Overwhelmingly the mentor trainees are women. While this is great for our girls, what about our boys? Leading boys is something that women can do, but men leading boys may be far more powerful. Boys are socialized to like and do different things. They are unique. Boys have different physiology, different skills, and often, different ways of thinking. These differences need to be celebrated … Continue reading →

“How Can We Ever Be Friends?” Katie and Vincent’s Story

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I read an article in this weeks PEOPLE magazine that really made me smile. It’s a shining example of how peer tutoring, or mentoring, is a fabulous concept that should be promoted in every school in the nation. The article, written by Richard Jerome and Lori Rozsa (May 29, 2006), highlights a special relationship between two students: Vincent Benito, who is 15 and has autism, and his peer mentor, Katie Davis, 13. The two attend Thomas E. Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Before Katie made the decision to be a peer mentor, she thought it would be an … Continue reading →