I have tackled the idea of teaching in a school setting for several years. The urge intensifies when I walk my two kids inside their school building each morning. I can’t help but smile, at all the children who pass me, on my way to my kid’s classrooms. The reminders make me wonder if I am too stubborn to hear and see the messages that I am a teacher. I know, teaching is expressed in many forms, and teaching is not confined to a school building. My mother has said for many years that I should teach. Parents I talk to say, I would make a great teacher and random people ask me if I am a teacher. Even though, I have received all these messages, it is not in my heart to teach in a formal classroom setting but, the love in my heart wants to be of service in some way.
One day, I was in the kitchen fixing myself lunch, and a thought came to my mind, and it said, “You may not want to teach, but, you can mentor.” I agreed with this message and I walked over to the phone and called the elementary school. I asked for the person in charge of the mentor program and, in March, I was contacted by the school counselor and district mentor coordinator. They told me what I needed to do before I could mentor. After security checks and a class I got my first mentee. He was a second grader. I was excited but, after a month of getting to know him, he moved to a new neighborhood, and switched schools. Two weeks passed and I was placed with another second-grade boy. He and his family recently arrived in the United States from the Gaza Strip. During our first few meetings, at lunch time, I sat in awe listening to a brilliant and courageous kid. All I did was listen as he smiled, while talking about his happy and familiar experiences, in Gaza Strip. He even told me a few words in Arabic. I really enjoyed being in his presence and listening to his story, from another part of our world that, is unfamiliar to me. At our last meeting in May, I learned he too would be leaving to attend another school. I knew, I would soon be back at square one, with no mentee.
I had a few months of mentor experience underneath my belt and I was ready to try it again. As I settled into August I became hopeful, that, I would get a student for an entire school year and maybe mentor the same child all the way to high school. As promised the school counselor called me and told me he had a student for me to mentor and I could begin as soon as possible. I asked ahead of time, for a kindergartener, and requested to read with my mentee.
Today my mentee is in first grade. He is a great kid. I believe things happen for a reason. My mentee loves to read and write just like I do. I enjoy writing and drawing with him. He is teaching me patience and stillness. When we have a challenging day, I take a deep breath and encourage him to do the same. Something as simple as taking a deep breath helps us focus on the moment we are experiencing.
Some days, I really don’t know what to do or how I can be the best mentor but, all he seems to really want is time and attention. Children want to be heard and loved. Children want to know they are important, are enough and they matter. Sometimes a simple hello with a high-five and have a good day is what they need to get through the day just like adults. I’ve learned adults and kids are not different at all. Don’t get me wrong, children are smaller than adults and need our help but they are wise too. We were once kids and someday kids will be adults. We are just at different places on our journey.
When I walk with my mentee, his teacher and his class to the playground I notice how all the kids automatically forget everything and become present to the moments they have to play outside. As an adult, I forget how to play. The adult world can be a little over the top and too serious and I have to re-learn to play like a kid again and get excited about the simple things life allows.
Mentoring is teaching me patience, the importance of time with others, how we are all not so different and that in this situation my mentee is really my teacher. Most importantly, I’ve learned I just got to be present with my mentee and be myself.
Copyright © 2016 by Allura Eshmun