Consider mentoring a child

  • Published
  • By Mercedes Camacho
  • 60th Services Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Each one of us remembers someone special - a neighbor, teacher, relative or friend - who broadened our horizons and brought a little magic into our lives. Maybe it was the person who taught you to ride a bike, encouraged you through a tough time, or just listened. It may have been someone who helped you make a good decision, instead of a bad one. No matter how that person supported you, think about the difference that they made in your life. What better way to start a new year than to honor that person by mentoring a child? 

This year, Travis' Family Member Programs Flight is partnering with the local Big Brother, Big Sisters program.

For Team Travis members, just a few hours a couple of times a month can make a big difference in a child's life, and may be a rewarding experience. Some children will see more hardship in their young lifetime than we will ever see as adults. Some individuals worry they won't be able to meet the time commitment but many realize it is easy to find the time. Early on, you start to realize that you and your match have a lot in common and start having a lot of fun with each other. You start to look forward to each meeting. Your time together becomes an opportunity to enjoy and it doesn't feel like a commitment at all. You may go biking, swimming, dancing, bowling, to the park or take in a movie. 

Knowing that you are making a difference in a child's life is the most gratifying feeling. Once you see the smile on a child's face, it becomes clear how much of a difference you are making in a child's life.

Not sure if you're mentor material? Let me try to clear up some of the misconceptions that keep many people from being a mentor. One is that a mentor has to have a professional job or prominent standing in the community. The fact is, kids don't care about titles, only the caring and commitment. Another myth is that it takes too much time to be a mentor. Most of our volunteers spend a few hours a couple of times a month with their Littles. It's the quality of the time spent, not the quantity. If you worry that you will run out of ideas for things to do with a Little Brother or Little Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters organizes all kinds of indoor and outdoor group events to be a part of. As one Big Brother told me, "Spending time with my Little Brother is easy. Stuff I'd do by myself is more fun with him."

Mentoring makes a big difference. Research shows that one-to-one, professionally supported mentoring has a direct, measurable and lasting impact. Children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to be involved in violence.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay is actively recruiting mentors. Our need for mentors has never been greater with more than 150 children on our waiting list. And with boys being two thirds of those waiting, we urgently need Big Brothers.

Too few young people have a caring adult mentor to provide encouragement and support. Mentoring programs can provide the link to this support, but programs like ours need volunteers to close the gap. Honor the mentors in your life by going to www.bbbsnorthbay.org and resolving to mentor a child.