A Hernando Christian Academy sophomore learns how to help struggling third-graders and train other mentors as well.
By LOGAN NEILL
Published August 28, 2003
When Gov. Jeb Bush first proposed his idea for the Teen Trendsetters reading mentorship program last year, he envisioned involving young people like Lauren Raley.
Smart, pleasant and outgoing, the 15-year-old loves nothing more than spending time with young children. And this past summer, when she was invited to attend a training conference in Orlando to become one of 200 new volunteer mentors, the Hernando Christian Academy sophomore couldn't refuse.
"I love the idea of helping little kids learn to read better," she said. "It's important for people my age to get involved in doing something good in the community. Education is so vital to our society, and we need to do more to help children do better in school."
This past summer, Lauren spent two days receiving specialized training from educators involved in the program that will help her not only to become a reading mentor to struggling third-grade readers in her school, but to act as a trainer for other HCA students interested in joining the network of one-on-one tutors.
"It'll be a wonderful help to our teachers to have students who can give a little extra attention to children who aren't up to grade-level reading," said Janessa Rivera, an English teacher at the school who chaperoned Lauren's trip to Orlando.
Lauren first heard about the Governor's Mentoring Initiative last spring from a teacher. The Teen Trendsetter program, which was initiated last year through a partnership between the state's education department and NEXT magazine, started with about 30 student volunteers and was set to expand to include about 200 new mentors statewide.
To be considered for the program Lauren had to write a 500-word essay on why she would like to become involved as a mentor. Having experience as a Sunday school aide at the New Life Assembly of God was one reason, but Lauren believes that her own love for reading was a strong point as well.
"Being able to read opens up your world,' she said. "Kids need to be able to read well to do well in school"
The honor student believes that one of the most impressive things about the program is that mentors are taught to train others to become mentors. Lauren already has signed up eight of her fellow students as volunteers. Once the program begins in September, volunteers are expected to spend at least one hour a week working one-on-one with students who need reading help.
Eventually, Lauren would like to see the program expand further, perhaps creating a team to mentor at other schools as well.
"When you think about it, it's not that much of a commitment for someone," said Lauren. "A little bit of your time can go a long way in helping another person, especially with something so important as learning."
