What I Learned
During these last 7 weeks I have learned so much about my advocacy program as well as my community as a whole.
One of the first ways I was able to build my advocacy plan and learn whether or not things were going to work was from my discussion group. Each week we gave valuable feedback that helped each of us understand our focus more as well as get some new ideas from fresh eyes. I was also able to get advice from them on whether or not a program like this had ever been brought about in their city and if it worked. I loved being able to expand my own thinking by listening to their plans and feedback.
Secondly, Ellie Cohen the head chair for the mentoring department at SpringSpirit was someone who was very important in the building process of my plan. She was able to let me in on some insight about things she has seen from mentors and mentees that are involved in their program. I was able to discuss with her different ways to make my plan more fun and interesting so that children were intrigued to join the class. It was through her that I learned that even with these types of programs there are still so many children that do not attend college and have no interest. One thing she did inform me of though was that the children who are interested in college go all in and put in their best efforts. If it was not for Ellie and all of her advice and support the last couple of weeks I do not think I would have been able to put this action plan into play.
Lastly, I learned about failure and achievement during this class. Many times during the course of the last 7 weeks I felt that I was letting myself down a bit. While I was working so hard to get this plan into place there were pieces that were not always easy to piece together. In those times I had to remind myself that it is normal to fail and that failure normally brings a better overall outcome. My patience were something that were tested quite a bit, but it made me realized why something such as a mentorship is important. By implementing this plan these children will have that support system when they are feeling like failures of losing patience. I have learned so much both in this class and through this project.
Insight Statements
1. Proper communication is necessary in order to ensure that these students are able to develop the proper relationship with their mentors in order to get the best understanding of how college truly works.
2. Myself and the mentors are honored to help these students/mentees build their knowledge during their last year of high school to ensure the proper exit out of high school and into the real world of college.
3. Mentorship creates a bond that allows students to feel an emotional and personal connection to someone that is not in their family and living their life.
During these last 7 weeks I have learned so much about my advocacy program as well as my community as a whole.
One of the first ways I was able to build my advocacy plan and learn whether or not things were going to work was from my discussion group. Each week we gave valuable feedback that helped each of us understand our focus more as well as get some new ideas from fresh eyes. I was also able to get advice from them on whether or not a program like this had ever been brought about in their city and if it worked. I loved being able to expand my own thinking by listening to their plans and feedback.
Secondly, Ellie Cohen the head chair for the mentoring department at SpringSpirit was someone who was very important in the building process of my plan. She was able to let me in on some insight about things she has seen from mentors and mentees that are involved in their program. I was able to discuss with her different ways to make my plan more fun and interesting so that children were intrigued to join the class. It was through her that I learned that even with these types of programs there are still so many children that do not attend college and have no interest. One thing she did inform me of though was that the children who are interested in college go all in and put in their best efforts. If it was not for Ellie and all of her advice and support the last couple of weeks I do not think I would have been able to put this action plan into play.
Lastly, I learned about failure and achievement during this class. Many times during the course of the last 7 weeks I felt that I was letting myself down a bit. While I was working so hard to get this plan into place there were pieces that were not always easy to piece together. In those times I had to remind myself that it is normal to fail and that failure normally brings a better overall outcome. My patience were something that were tested quite a bit, but it made me realized why something such as a mentorship is important. By implementing this plan these children will have that support system when they are feeling like failures of losing patience. I have learned so much both in this class and through this project.
Insight Statements
1. Proper communication is necessary in order to ensure that these students are able to develop the proper relationship with their mentors in order to get the best understanding of how college truly works.
2. Myself and the mentors are honored to help these students/mentees build their knowledge during their last year of high school to ensure the proper exit out of high school and into the real world of college.
3. Mentorship creates a bond that allows students to feel an emotional and personal connection to someone that is not in their family and living their life.