Mentoring can really have a huge impact on a student’s success throughout their education. In the Kent School District (KSD), Communities in Schools of Kent helps support our students by providing a mentor that can be a connection for students and further help them succeed on their educational pathway in KSD. Through Communities in Schools, students are connected to a community, and it’s through this community where students thrive.

Char Grinolds is a mentor through Communities in Schools and has really enjoyed mentoring and being a supporter for her mentee Anna. “I became a mentor after hearing a Communities in Schools person speak at my Kiwanis club. I have always been a supporter of [youth] as they are our future leaders. I enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas with them,” said Grinolds. 

Char has learned a lot from being a mentor and how to best support her mentee.“I have learned so much from each mentee, sometimes I think I get more from the relationship than they do. I love to just listen to them talk about life and their experiences,” said Grinolds.

Anna Huynh is a student at Kent Laboratory Academy (KLA) and has really found her mentor relationship with Char to be very important to her. “I felt like I am being guided to prepare for my future… I could ask about colleges and questions that would help me in the future,” said Huynh.

Being a mentor in Kent School District can also lend itself to the creation of important community-building spaces for our students. Phillip Delapena is a mentor, who helped start the Sexuality and Gender Awareness (SAGA) club at KLA. In 2016, Phillip and a few students from SAGA marched together in the Seattle Pride Parade. “There was so much excitement and joy on my mentee’s faces that day. Being in the middle of a parade that validates and encourages these young adults to be themselves gave me so much joy.” 

Tray Svendson, another Communities in Schools mentor, mentions the journey students go on to eventually graduating and attending the ceremony is really where that mentor to mentee relationship comes full circle. “Attending the graduation ceremony and being able to share with their parents and grandparents is pretty special… It really does take a village,” said Svendson. 

For people who are on the fence, but not sure if they should volunteer to be a mentor in KSD, Kandis Reyes, another mentor from Communities in Schools, gives some words of advice. “Share what kind of student would be a good fit from age to interests. Be honest about your schedule and what you can offer. At first, I was nervous to find a time that works with my student’s school schedule and my work schedule, but Karen, site coordinator for Communities in Schools, was great at helping us find a time that works for both of us,” said Reyes.

Want to Mentor in KSD?

If you are interested in volunteering, please visit Communities in Schools or Glover Empower Mentoring to sign up. To mentor, volunteers are required to complete an online application, including a background check through our Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS), before beginning service.

Article Source: Kent Meridian High School