Wanted: A Few (Actually Many) Good Men
District 116 Looks for Male Mentors
January was Mentor Month and the Urbana School District let men know that there are many middle school and high school boys that need a male mentor to help them navigate through adolescence. Two-thirds of the mentor requests in District 116 come from boys. Only one-third of the mentor volunteers in District 116 are men. The mentors are not tutors, nor do they fill a parental role; they are there to listen to students and give out advice on life. Mentors meet with their students one hour per week.
One mentor shared his story and encouraged others to join them in the mentoring program.
Damon Hackleman is in his second year as a mentor and he’s paired with student LaShon Little. Hackleman got involved in the mentoring program through a friend of his who is also a mentor. “It’s been really rewarding for me. Being a parent of two small children it (mentoring) gives me a chance to get back around middle school aged children…and being refreshed at that age in life,” Hackleman said. He continued, “It’s easy to forget how many things change in your life at that point (in middle school), so being able to connect with someone and give back and being able to help out is very rewarding.”
“It helps me to know that somebody is listening and cares,” Little said. Hackleman and Little talk about the issues facing his school life, including getting along with others and the importance of studying hard. While Hackleman doesn’t formally tutor Little, Little noted his grades have taken a dramatic jump and he says he feels better about being in school. “I got my grades up and have kept them up ever since my favorite teacher got me into the mentoring program,” Little explained.
Hackleman said there is a large need for men to be mentors to young men in the Urbana School District. “There are not enough role models out there today, otherwise programs like this wouldn’t exist the way they do. As somebody who’s grown up and seen what good role models can do for them, it’s very beneficial,” Hackleman added.
If you are thinking, “I don’t know if I have the strength to relate to adolescent boys,” Hackleman debunked those fears. He said as one who has been out of the middle school era for many years he found he was able to relate to adolescents. Hackleman explained, “It’s no different than when you were a kid. They’re always looking for someone to look up to that will actually take the time to listen to them about what’s important to them and what’s going on in their life and not judge and just be a friend. Once you’re doing it, it’s very rewarding, it’s not intimidating. It’s very rewarding.”
The Urbana School District is always looking for more mentors. For more information about the District 116 mentoring program, please see http://www.usd116.org/home/mentors.html.