Make an Impact: Be a mentor
Project Leadership

Make an Impact: Be a mentor

The above video is produced by Mentoring.org, a national organization promoting local mentoring organizations like Project Leadership.

Project Leadership paves the way to and through college for local youth. We use the word ‘college’ as shorthand, a concise way to describe the options students have for training beyond high school; formally described as ‘post-secondary education’. Whatever you call it, we know that training beyond high school opens up many doors for success.

One of the ways Project Leadership ‘paves the way to college’ is our high school mentoring program. The mentoring program matches one community volunteer with one high school student. Most students are matched in their freshman year of high school. Community volunteers are asked to give one hour each week during the school year, and to make a year commitment.

What does it take to be a mentor for Project Leadership?

  1. A desire to impact students lives in a positive way.
  2. Commitment to meeting with a student weekly. Especially as a mentor relationship is beginning, it is essential to the mentor relationship that the adult be dependable.
  3. All mentors must pass an extensive background check as a safety measure.

Would you consider making an impact in a student’s life? As you consider, click here to learn more about the 6 qualities of a successful mentor.

Apply today to be a mentor in the Fall 2016 school year. Begin your impact today!

Snow and success.
Project Leadership

Snow and success.

Seth Godin’s tag line is “GO Make something happen.” He writes quick, short blog posts that encourage his readers to take action, which you can see in the post copied below.

Godin’s recent post relates to Project Leadership, I think. Read it below.

It’s not a problem if you prepare for it

Buffalo famously gets a lot of snow. Growing up there, though, no one really freaked out about it, because we had machines to get rid of it and the attitude that it was hardly a problem worth hyperventilating over.

Most problems are like that. When we prepare for them and get used to them, they’re not problems anymore. They’re merely the way it is. – Seth Godin

Godin’s post gets me wondering: How do we prevent problems?

Can this idea of preparation preventing problems be true?

Like Godin, my dad has experienced some winters in Buffalo, NY. In middle school, my dad moved there from Indianapolis. Dad always tells the story of first shoveling the sidewalk after moving to Buffalo. The neighbor yelled over to him, “Throw it further. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get through by the end of the winter.” My dad still chuckles at the warning, 50+ years later.

My dad wasn’t used to shoveling in Buffalo. In Indianapolis, a foot of snow is uncommon. Often, the snow melts between snowstorms. But not in Buffalo. The neighbor’s help allowed my dad to be prepared for something he didn’t know to prepare for himself.

In addition to preparation, you also need knowledge. You can’t prepare for something you don’t know or can’t anticipate.

So, what do snow storms in Buffalo have to do with Project Leadership?

When you think about preparing for college, if you come from a family where no one has gone to college then you may not ‘know how far to throw the snow,’ if you know what I mean. Like my dad, without the perspective that experience brings, some students aren’t prepared for the ‘storms’ that college and college preparation will throw at them.

Project Leadership mentors understand many of the snowstorms of college. Because of that, our mentors help their mentees prepare for the ‘snowstorms’ they don’t know are coming. By walking alongside their mentees, PL mentors help students prepare for their futures. Mentors may be able to help predict problems before they arise and identify the right tools and solutions. No mentor can prevent the storms, but they can help find the right tools to weather the storms that come up in the pursuit of  their college and career goals.

Do you agree with Mr. Godin? Do you have an example of a problem you’ve prevented by preparing? Share your thoughts on Project Leadership’s Facebook page.

Would you like help preparing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) forms?

How do you celebrate Thank Your Mentor Day?
Project Leadership

How do you celebrate Thank Your Mentor Day?

As a highlight of National Mentoring Month 2016, Thank Your Mentor Day™ is celebrated January 21. Many Americans will reach out to thank or honor those individuals who encouraged and guided them, and had a lasting, positive impact on their lives. These are simple ways you can thank your mentor:

  1. Contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation.
  2. Express your gratitude on social media.
  3. Pass on what you received by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community.
  4. Make a financial contribution  in your mentor’s honor.
  5. Write a tribute to your mentor for posting on the Project Leadership blog. Send to Sue at sgodfrey@projectleadership.org.

*Thank Your Mentor Day™ is an initiative of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From National Mentoring Month.org.

Can an hour a week make a difference? Read Jacob’s story
Project Leadership

Can an hour a week make a difference? Read Jacob’s story

Can one hour a week make a difference? Project Leadership asks volunteers to give one hour each week to mentor a student. One hour to listen. One hour to provide feedback and friendship. One hour of accountability. The hours add up, like grains of sand in an hourglass. While the individual hour might seem insignificant, each hour is a deposit toward a student’s future. The hours, when added together, make a significant impact. The hours add up to provide stability and perspective and hope. Read Jacob’s story, which is really Keith’s story, too. The Project Leadership team is cheering for Jacob. And thankful for Keith’s commitment to giving an hour a week. Thank you for making a difference!

As a ninth grade student at Muncie Southside High School, Jacob was matched with a Project Leadership mentor named Keith.  The two of them have developed a strong relationship over the past four years.  Jacob is now a freshman at Ball State studying Computer Science.  He and Keith stay in touch and occasionally have lunch together on campus.

While Jacob graduated with a high GPA, his SAT scores were too low for him to be admitted to Ball State right away.  He was put on the waiting list.  Jacob and Keith discussed options, called Project Leadership for advice, and eventually put together a plan that would improve Jacob’s chances of acceptance.  They also moved forward with alternatives in case that acceptance did not come through.

In the end, Jacob was able to attend Ball State and absolutely loves being there.  He admits that he has struggled his first semester.  It’s different from high school, he explains.  “In high school you just had to do what was needed to get points.  There was a lot of fluff – assignments, extra credit, and participation points – that allowed anyone who really wanted good grades to get them,” he says.  “I didn’t need to do a lot of studying. In college, however, you have to have a deep and thorough understanding of the material.  I’m just now figuring out how to do that.  Professors care, but it’s up to the student to get the job done.  It’s been stressful and a lot of work and not at all like they portray in the movies.  I’ve wanted to quit, but I know I just have to keep working.  I won’t earn the good grades I’m used to this semester, but I’m optimistic that next semester will be better.”

When talking about his mentor, Jacob explains that Keith doesn’t have all the answers and he doesn’t do the work for him, but the rock solid support he provides is invaluable.  Keith had his own set of problems to overcome, but he went all the way and made something of himself, says Jacob.  He says of his mentor: “He is a great person! He provided a straight line for me to follow and supported me when I needed it most. Having him come for lunch each week and being able to talk things over with him was the greatest thing for me!”

Would you like to impact a student like Jacob’s life? You, like Keith, can impact a student’s life. Get involved as a mentor– one hour each week can truly make a difference! Click here to learn more.

Give a gift of support to join Project Leadership in paving the way to and through college for students like Jacob. Click here for giving options.

Project Leadership

Meet Randy – A Project Leadership Graduate

At Project Leadership, we enjoy walking side-by-side with high school students as they form and pursue their post-secondary dreams. For Marion native, Randy Sheron, that meant pursuing a Social Work degree at Ball State University after high school.

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As a freshman 21st Century Scholar at Marion High School, Randy already knew that she wanted to go to college, but she also realized that it was going to take a lot of work. During her freshman year, her mom informed her about Project Leadership’s mentoring program, and asked her if it was something she would be interested in.

“After she explained to me that a mentor would be there to meet with me and help me out with school, I decided that I wanted to enter the program,” said Randy.

Randy was paired her freshman year with a mentor named Mishelle Wright. They were matched for all four years of high school, and developed a strong, trust-based relationship.

“Mishelle and I had a connection from the beginning. I was quiet and shy, and I felt like Mishelle understood because she was the same way. She made me feel comfortable. We would do a lot of different, fun things, like meet at Starbucks.”

Mishelle helped Randy keep her focus on future goals, and also helped her overcome obstacles along the way.

“Mishelle was what I would consider to be a perfect mentor. If she didn’t know the answer, she would always point me in the right direction. She was always there to encourage me, even during the hard times.”

Randy went on to graduate from Marion high school in 2012, and is now a student at Ball State University. To this day, she stays in contact with Mishelle. She is finishing up her senior year as a social work major, and decided to volunteer at Project Leadership to fulfill an academic requirement.

“Being in Project Leadership’s mentoring program was a very positive experience for me. I wanted more hands-on experience, and I felt like Project Leadership’s values aligned well with social work. It just made sense to volunteer here.”

We are happy to have you, Randy! Thank you for sharing your story with us!

If you would like to learn more about our mentoring program, click here.

 

 

 

Six Qualities of Successful Mentors
Project Leadership

Six Qualities of Successful Mentors

Project Leadership matches community mentors with a 21st Century Scholar in their freshman year of high school or college. Community volunteers are asked to commit an hour each week for one year. The one-year commitment allows for enough time to develop a relationship and have a positive impact on a student. However, it is not uncommon for mentor-mentee relationships to grow beyond one year; many mentors walk with students through their high school career and beyond.

Through our years of managing mentor relationships, Project Leadership has learned the qualities that successful mentors share. The following information from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership show the top six qualities of successful mentors.

1) Personal commitment to be involved with another person for an extended time — generally, one year at minimum. Mentors have a genuine desire to be part of other people’s lives, to help them with tough decisions and to see them become the best they can be. They have to be invested in the mentoring relationship long enough to make a difference.

2) Respect for individuals and for their abilities and their right to make their

own choices in life. Mentors should not approach the mentee with the attitude that their own ways are better or that participants need to be rescued. Mentors who convey a sense of respect and equal dignity in the relationship win the trust of their mentees and the privilege of being advisors to them.

3) Ability to listen and to accept different points of view. Most people can find someone who will give advice or express opinions. It’s much harder to find someone who will suspend his or her own judgment and really listen. Mentors often help simply by listening, asking thoughtful questions and giving mentees an opportunity to explore their own thoughts with a minimum of interference. When people feel accepted, they are more likely to ask for and respond to good ideas.

4) Ability to empathize with another person’s struggles. Effective mentors can feel with people without feeling pity for them. Even without having had the same life experiences, they can empathize with their mentee’s feelings and personal problems.

5) Ability to see solutions and opportunities as well as barriers. Effective mentors balance a realistic respect for the real and serious problems faced by their mentees with optimism about finding equally realistic solutions. They are able to make sense of a seeming jumble of issues and point out sensible alternatives.

6) Flexibility and openness. Effective mentors recognize that relationships take time to develop and that communication is a two-way street. They are willing to take time to get to know their mentees, to learn new things that are important to their mentees (music, styles, philosophies, etc.), and even to be changed by their relationship.

As you read the qualities of a successful mentor, do you see yourself as possessing the qualities of a successful mentor? Please join Project Leadership to improve our community through mentoring. Apply online today at projectleadership.org/apply.

Frequently Asked Questions of Potential Mentors
Project Leadership

Frequently Asked Questions of Potential Mentors

When we go out to recruit mentors, whether it be at a community event, a school, or a business meeting, our staff fields great questions from potential mentors. In order to spread the word about the Project Leadership mentoring program, we are gathering the questions frequently asked by members of the community, and then answering them here on our website during the week!

Read More

Celebrating the Difference a Mentor can Make
Project Leadership

Celebrating the Difference a Mentor can Make

Have you ever been a mentor? Ever wondered about the difference you could make? Read below about how mentoring relationships have impacted the students in our program.

ONE HOUR. ONCE A WEEK. ONE YEAR. TWO CHANGED LIVES.

 

Dear Jacquie, “Thank you, Mrs. Jacquie, for always being there for me and always giving me good advice. I really do appreciate our talks. I always look forward to our meetings.”— Nichole
Dear Jacquie, “Thank you, Mrs. Jacquie, for always being there for me and always giving me good advice. I really do appreciate our talks. I always look forward to our meetings.”— Nichole
Dear Mike, “Thank you for becoming my mentor this year. Also thank you for going out of your way to come see me every Tuesday. I hope we can finish the year great!”— Ramon
Dear Mike, “Thank you for becoming my mentor this year. Also thank you for going out of your way to come see me every Tuesday. I hope we can finish the year great!”— Ramon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Ellen, “Words cannot express all that you have done for me. With everything that has happened to me this year, I’ve really started to think of you as family. You’ve always made sure that I’m doing what I’m supposed to, and accomplish everything that I deserve. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”— Jennifer
Dear Ellen, “Words cannot express all that you have done for me. With everything that has happened to me this year, I’ve really started to think of you as family. You’ve always made sure that I’m doing what I’m supposed to, and accomplish everything that I deserve. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”— Jennifer
Dear Monica, “Thank you for all that you do. You go beyond the call, so words can’t express how thankful I am. My life has changed because someone like you decided to care and love me. You are the best.” —Chasity
Dear Monica,
“Thank you for all that you do. You go beyond the call, so words can’t express how thankful
I am. My life has changed because someone like you decided to care and love me. You are the best.”
—Chasity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Don, “I want to thank you for taking time to meet with me about getting free college. Before this whole Project Leadership came into play, I had no intention of going to college. I already knew I wasn’t going. But now that you’re here helping me and getting everything set up, I know now that I’m going. I know that my future holds more now. Because of you, I’m doing way better in school than I would’ve because I know I have to keep my grades up for college and for a better future. I also want to thank you for taking me to all the games and camps that you’ve taken me to. It was awesome. I don’t get to do that stuff a lot, so thanks. Thank you so much for actually caring and putting in effort. It means a lot.” — Wyatt
Dear Don, “I want to thank you for taking time to meet with me about getting free college. Before this whole Project Leadership came into play, I had no intention of going to college. I already knew I wasn’t going. But now that you’re here helping me and getting everything set up, I know now that I’m going. I know that my future holds more now. Because of you, I’m doing way better in school than I would’ve because I know I have to keep my grades up for college and for a better future. I also want to thank you for taking me to all the games and camps that you’ve taken me to. It was awesome. I don’t get to do that stuff a lot, so thanks. Thank you so much for actually caring and putting in effort. It means a lot.” — Wyatt
Dear Dick, “As I write this, I think about how great my future can and will be. At the beginning, I didn’t think I would change. I also didn’t think I would be able to continue my job as a student. The past couple of years have changed all that, and there are so many things that I want to go to college for. With your help, I can become something I never thought I could. I just want to thank you for that. Thank you.”— Austin
Dear Dick, “As I write this, I think about how great my future can and will be. At the beginning, I didn’t think I would change. I also didn’t think I would be able to continue my job as a student. The past couple of years have changed all that, and there are so many things that I want to go to college for. With your help, I can become something I never thought I could. I just want to thank you for that. Thank you.”— Austin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply to be a mentor on our website at www.projectleadership.org/apply.

 

 

Mentor List

 

 

The magic of mentoring is all about the Match!
Project Leadership

The magic of mentoring is all about the Match!

A great mentor match is like any great friendship – based upon mutual interests and commitment to the relationship. But good mentoring matches don’t happen by accident!

The past six weeks have been filled with interviews of prospective new Mentors and Mentees. As our Mentoring Program team, Julie McGee and Monica Rickner, conduct interviews, the goal is to make the best mentoring match possible. They are constantly making notes and sharing observations to make strong matches. Strong matches provide a strong foundation for  students and mentors to have an enjoyable and productive mentoring experience, like the one featured in the above photo of Jay McGee with his mentee.

We encourage you to apply to apply to be matched for Project Leadership’s mentoring program. The committment is truly small in comparison to the impact you have. The sooner you apply, the better our Mentoring Program team will be to match you! Apply today!

Be a PL Mentee:
As a 21st Century Scholar, you’ve made a pledge: get good grades, stay out of trouble, and commit to a college education. A mentor is someone who can help provide support and guidance as you work toward your college goals. Project Leadership is currently accepting applications to participate in our mentoring program for 21st Century Scholars in high school. Students in the program agree to meet with their mentor once a week for one year. For more information or to submit a mentoring program application, call 765-651-0650 in Grant County or 765-896-8616 in Delaware County.

Be a PL Mentor and change two lives:
Community volunteers like you are needed to mentor local high school students as they prepare for college. Mentors use their experience and problem-solving skills to support and guide students as they work to reach their personal and academic goals. Training and resources are provided by the program. Mentors make a one-year commitment to meet with one student once a week for one hour at their high school.

One Hour
Once a Week
One Year
Two Lives Changed

For more information on Project Leadership’s mentoring program call 651-0650 or 896-8616.

 

8th Annual Red Rubber Ball celebrates Perseverence
Project Leadership

8th Annual Red Rubber Ball celebrates Perseverence

On Saturday June 13, 2015, Project Leadership mentors, mentees and families gathered at Marion Ivy Tech’s Conference Center for the 8th annual Red Rubber Ball banquet and celebration.

The Red Rubber Ball event is a time to reflect. It’s a time to celebrate. And this year, it was a time for tears. Our rejoicing came after sobering stories of struggles, which became stories of perseverance. Our tears were happy tears, as we celebrated the courage, tenacity and grit displayed by our students while overcoming difficulties.

With our mentors, mentees and families gathered, the celebration provided opportunity to award and recognize those who have overcome, encouraged and persevered. Project Leadership’s Senior Video debuted, highlighting stories of perseverance, a theme woven throughout the evening.

Mentees shared moving stories of perseverance. Jessica Meza, a first-generation Scholar, who is graduating from Ivy Tech Community College with a Human Service degree, shared her successes in college and her plans for helping others persevere. Ben Brown, Meranda Herbert and Regina Martinez each inspired us with stories of overcoming obstacles; their perseverance stories showed the transformation of difficulty to hope and encouragement.

Project Leadership gave several honors throughout the evening. The Encourager Award, given to someone who Project Leadership considers to be a super mentor to our organization.

Tim Clark of Indiana Youth Institute, the Indiana College Success Mentoring
(ICSM) Initiative Program Manager is the recipient of the 2015 Encourager
Award. Tammy Pearson describes Tim, “For the past four years, this Encourager has not only supported Project Leadership students, families and mentors, but has also shaped the very programming that exists today.

Tim Clark, you are a role model for all.

A teacher to many.

A coach for a privileged few.

And an encourager to Project Leadership and our grateful team.”

Mentee and Mentor of the Year for Delaware and Grant Counties were awarded to nominees for whom the mentoring relationship has impacted their life with growth, change and encouragement.

2015 Mentee of the Year for Grant CountyJenniferHauge

Jennifer Hauge, 2015 graduate of Marion High School. Jennifer is a young lady who works hard, gets good grades and is involved in school and community, and has accomplished all this while having the unspeakable happen. Jennifer lost her mother tragically this year. Jennifer spoke to us about her Red Rubber Ball – to make a difference in someone’s life.

 

2015 Mentee of the Year for Delaware CountyTaylorSpringer

Taylor Springer, 2015 graduate of Wapahani High School. Mentor Brittany Snyder says of Taylor, “There is no doubt in my mind that Taylor will accomplish all of her dreams. Throughout my time as her mentor, Taylor has persevered, regardless of obstacles. She never complains, and never makes excuses. Instead, she simply looks at her options, and takes action to succeed.”

 

2015 Mentor of the Year Grant County2015 GC Mentor of the Year

Barb Pack, 2015 Mentor of the Year Grant County has been a mentor to Venita Hayes. A 2015 Graduate of Marion High School, Venita Hayes says of Barb, “Because of Barb, I am a better person and I believe my future is so much stronger. She changed my life, and I couldn’t ask for better.”

 

2015 Mentor of the Year Delaware CountyKarenHowells

Karen Howells, 2015 Mentor of the Year Delaware County, was visibly moved as she watched a video of her mentee Haley Spurlock, a 2015 graduate of Muncie Central High School. Describing Karen’s impact in her life, Haley said of Karen, “No one is more deserving of this award. Karen has impacted my life so much. I would not be who I am today without her.”

 

Also honored at the event were Mentors Bill Cramer and Ellen Spitzer, who each have mentored for eight years.

2015RRB

The Red Rubber Ball celebration serves as a touchpoint each year, a time to reflect upon the previous year, and to prepare for the future. Throughout the evening, it became clear: as we tell stories of accomplishing our dreams, we will also share stories of struggles and challenges that were overcome through perseverance and courage. By sharing their accomplishments, our mentees encouraged and inspired us to do the work to reach toward our dreams, and to help others reach for their dreams.

 

Would you consider joining Project Leadership in our work supporting students? To give to Project Leadership go to www.projectleadership.org/donate.

Interested in learning more about mentoring? Read Six Qualities of a Successful Mentor.