Milwaukee Mentors Success Stories

Jeffray and I have been matched since February 2001. I began mentoring with the Kinship Program of Lutheran Social Services because I believe it is important to be a positive male role model in today's society and I knew that mentoring was the best way to make an impact.

Jeff and I always have fun together. We enjoy golfing, playing board games and going to the movies. We try new things together so both of us expand our horizons. I keep up with Jeff's school work and help him whenever I can.

Mentoring has given me the opportunity to impact someone's life with just a few hours a month.

My student Romond and I have been matched for a little over a year now, since Romond, who is now a sophomore in high school, was a freshman. Through Sponsor-A-Scholar, Romond and I are working towards his dream of a college education, and we are both growing in the process.

This summer the two of us went for a "lunch-and-library" day, complete with chocolate malts and a trip to the career and post-secondary education sections of Romond's local library. We also made a trip to my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to give Romond an idea of what exactly it is we're working towards. While we were there, we even practiced selecting classes and finding the required texts.

The mentoring experience has been an enriching pursuit for me as well as Romond. I truly enjoy the energy that I get from working with young people. The more time that I spend mentoring, the more I am humbled by the magnitude of the responsibility to help Romond find the right keys to his future.

One thing that has really impressed me about Romond is his commitment to our mentoring relationship. Romond and I are looking forward to a rewarding connection that will extend well beyond his four years of high school!

I have been matched with my mentee Romero for 6 years. We were described as an "unlikely pair" in the beginning. However, we have built a very solid relationship in our time together. I have been able to be there every step of the way to watch Romero grow into a mature, successful young adult.

Matched in 1999, I wanted to do more than write checks. My match with Romero was tough at first; Romero didn't want to open up to me too much. Romero commented that he was afraid to get too close to me because he had been hurt so much in the past. I made a pledge to Romero that I would be there for him as a foundation so that, if he fell, he didn't fall too far. It wasn't about me, it was about him and whether or not he wanted a mentor.

Romero and I have become so connected in our relationship that Romero looks to me to provide the support in his life that many teens look to their parents for. I have helped Romero transform from a C-D range student to an A-B student and succeed in being accepted to Messmer High School, graduating and being accepted to UW-Milwaukee and Fordham University certificate program.

Whatever Romero decides, I will support him through his transitions into adulthood. I mentor Romero through the Agape Community Center Mentoring Program.

Yer and I met last spring when she was finishing her Freshman year at Bay View High School. I was a new mentor with Sponsor-A-Scholar and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. However, I was drawn to the idea of providing support to hard-working students who are committed to the learning process and who have plans to go to college.

One of Yer's many interests is Biology. It's among her favorite classes and a subject she may study in college. Even on the outings we've taken together, Yer's desire to learn more about science is clear. We had a great time pulling up weeds at the Urban Ecology Center on a trip organized by SAS and saw a wonderful Audubon exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

In a rather unexpected twist this winter, I moved back to my hometown, San Francisco. Since then, and really, ever since we've known each other, email has been an essential means of communication for us. Despite the distance, Yer and I have stayed in touch by email. We communicate every few days and keep each other up to date about what's happening in our lives. I sent her photos of a cable car trip I took last week and I know that she recently celebrated the Hmong New Year with her family and will be moving soon. Even if I don't have an adventurous story to share, I still write to Yer every few days just to say hello.

There are so many things that make Yer an incredible person -- she's learning to play guitar, she loves foreign language films, she is compassionate, and her positive attitude is contagious. It has been a privilege (and so much fun!) to get to know Yer and I can't wait to see what she will accomplish in these coming years.