Menotoring Impact
August 25, 2008
Recently we had an opportunity to nominate a mentor for a national award. Five Amachi Mentors from across the country will receive this recognition. Here is a mentee’s story about his mentor. “For a long time, I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone about my situation, but that changed when I met my mentor, Jason. I wasn’t too sure about having a mentor because I thought he would leave me like everyone else. To my surprise, Mr. Jason not only stayed for one year, but in June, it will be three years. Mr. Jason, has helped me with my homework, taught me how to mow the lawn and manage his irrigation system for his wife’s garden. Mr. Jason also introduced me to new hobbies such as building model cars and designing web pages. The most important thing that Mr. Jason has given me is quality time. He initiated me into his family, which made me feel as if I belonged to something once again. Mr. Jason has impacted my life overall in that he has taught me many aspects of manhood. “Honesty and responsibility” are the pillars we stand on. After much encouragement from him, I now push myself to make good grades, and I have been accepted into a private school that costs thirteen thousand dollars a year. I must give Mr. Jason some of the credit because he helped me to see that being smart was cool and hard work pays off in the end. So, even if Mr. Jason does not win the AMACHI Mentor of the Year Award, at least I have won a great friend, mentor, and most of all, a brother.
Cityscapes is written by Chris Martin, President, Knoxville Leadership Foundation.
