Make a point to mentor a local child this year

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Another school year kicks off in a little more than a week for most local students, bringing forth new possibilities.

The new school year is not only a time for students and teachers to re-engage, it’s also an opportunity for members of the community to do so as well by involving themselves in local education. There is always a need for additional mentors and volunteers, and there are few rewards greater than seeing first-hand the positive impact one can have in helping to shape a child.

If finding the time has been a roadblock to volunteering in the past, make a concerted effort this year to find a way to get involved. Local civic organizations and church ministries should make volunteering in the local schools a priority this year as well. Groups and organizations should set a goal in an effort to encourage members to volunteer and get involved.

Even if you don’t have a child in school, chances are you know one and can reach one simply by giving of your time and expressing an interest. Mentoring not only helps the individual child, the impact of the one-on-one relationship with an adult can also go a long way in changing the overall outlook on education and on the future, which can be seen in the classroom and beyond.

Whether it’s through reading to a child or weekly one-on-one mentoring the impact of just a few minutes a week can mean a world of difference and help keep a child on the right path.

The reach and impact of mentoring goes beyond grades and performance in the classroom, particularly in instances where the child does not receive ample one-on-one time with any other adults, where it can also help to boost self-esteem and serve as an influence on positive behavior.

When we take a close assessment of the state of our communities and see all that is wrong, we should also take a self-assessment and examine what we can do as individuals to help make things right. Getting involved in the local schools has the potential to go a long way in ensuring the positives in our communities outweigh the negatives.

The impact can last a lifetime.