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Carol Spaeth-Bauer | In the Meantime
Mentors receive as well as give
I started mentoring long before I realized January is National Mentoring Month. When Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR launched National Mentoring Month (NMM) in 2002, I had already been working with elementary students for several years, trying to instill a love of writing. I didn't consider it mentoring. I considered it sharing my enthusiasm for something I enjoyed.
A number of those students still keep in touch with me, and some are now taking their turn at mentoring by helping me with the same group they left behind when they entered middle and then high school.
I stepped into mentoring with FIRST Robotics when my youngest son became interested in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and continued when he reached high school and entered FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). I know little about engineering, but I can operate power tools and know how to guide young people.
It didn't take many 4-H meetings before I decided to become a leader, aka mentor, in photography, where I shared another interest in my life with the young people in Phantom Clovers 4-H Club.
While mentoring in 4-H and the writing group share skills I have been blessed with, my involvement with robotics is fueled by the impact the program has on the youth involved. The doors FRC can open and the dreams it can help fulfill for high school students is more than enough to balance the numerous hours devoted to the team. I have witnessed how much it means to the young people involved to know there is an adult who cares.
Mentoring may enhance the lives of the mentees, but at the same time it enriches the life of the mentor, as I have learned in my years of mentoring. My life is richer and deeper because of the young people who have crossed my path. I learn along with them and gain knowledge I doubt I would have found on my own. It's not time given, but fullness gained.
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Posted Wednesday, Jan. 25 |
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Photo of the Week by Scott Ash:
MANY HATS - Kathy LaShelle from the Town of Merton tries on a handmade hat from Jo's Feltz at the Delafield Winter Market on Sunday, Jan 15. The market is an indoor farmers market and craft fair located at the Delafield Fish Hatchery on the third Sunday of each month through April.
News or Feature Story of the Week by Joe Trovato: Area school districts jump into WEA lawsuit
Design Layout of the Week by Matt Colby: What a difference a day makes
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- Sussex-Menomonee Falls-Pewaukee Relay For Life Kickoff Event Sunday, February 19th 3:00 PM
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