If you were to walk into my house on any given day there is a good chance you would find my oldest with her nose in a book. She loves reading, science, and school, but is still working on finding the extracurricular activities that she enjoys the most. She's only seven and I love that she tries lots of new things! This spring, in addition to swimming lessons and Girl Scouts, she is trying out lacrosse for the first time. Trying new sports doesn't always come easily to her so when Role Model Mentors reached out with a chance to experience their program I was thrilled.
Role Model Mentors uses local high school students, who excel in academics, sports, and the arts, to mentor and support students in kindergarten through grade eight. The first step in finding the perfect mentor for my oldest was to fill out a basic information sheet on their website. It asked for basic demographic information as well as the areas where I thought she needed support. Role Model Mentors believes in whole child mentoring which includes helping kids navigate social challenges while working to improve academically, develop sports skills, and advance in music or visual arts. The whole kid approach is what intrigued me the most about their program. While my oldest excels academically I am excited for her to have an academic challenge in her weekly session, time to focus on her love of science, and some tips to help her learn a new sport. Plus, dealing with social situations can be hard. As parents, we can encourage and teach social skills but sometimes having someone you look up to help you navigate peer interactions can be incredibly beneficial. I absolutely struggle in this area as a parent and it is what I am most excited about for our mentoring sessions. Knowing where kids need support helps Role Model Mentors find the perfect mentor for each individual mentee.
Once the online survey was completed I received a call from the Regional Director where we discussed my daughter's interests, areas where she could use support more in-depth. I love how hard they work to really understand a child's strengths, interests, and areas to work on. The conversation was fun which was a surprise because in truth I was dreading it a little because I don't love talking on the phone but Role Model Mentors gets kids and families. It was apparent from my conversation that they understood the development of elementary school age kids and they knew they would find a way to help with just the right mentor. From there they set to work finding the perfect mentor for my daughter, and when they did I received an email with her contact information. That same day our mentor, Catherine, emailed me to reach out to set up our first session. She reached out before I even had the chance to call. Role Model Mentors gives high schoolers a paid (or for credit or community service) after-school job that is meaningful while tapping into their personal interests and talents. They also learn entrepreneurial skills while developing leadership, communication and client service skills. As an entrepreneur myself I believe these are skills all high school students should learn before graduating and I love that I am supporting a local high school student through Role Model Mentors.
Our mentor, Catherine, is a Hingham High School student and lacrosse player - yay! I really wanted someone my daughter could look up to academically, be inspired by, and support her interest in a new sport. Role Model Mentors' unique blend of multiple activities in the same session has the power to keep kids engaged and having fun in ways a traditional adult tutor might not and I can't wait to see it in action!
To learn more about Role Model Mentors and sign up for a free trial visit rolemodelmentors.com. Don't forget to follow them on Facebook @RMMentors, Instagram @RoleModelMentors, and Twitter @RMMentors.
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