Picture This!

Lauryn age 17 (mentee)
Michele (mentor)
Mentor Team:  more than a year (since October 2005)

M:  Lauryn, what made you want to be part of a mentor team? 
L:  I thought it would be a good idea to have someone mentor me.  And, they can help keep
me out of trouble and help me study…yeah…a study partner, because people in my house aren’t good with helping out with homework.  My grandmother can help me with biology when she’s not forgetful (she burnt the chicken last night). 

You’ve helped me a lot in a lot of ways you don’t know.  You’ve helped me to keep my grades up and you motivate me.  And, we always have a lot of fun, even when it’s not just us and we take along my friends, our friends, your friends.

Before you were my mentor, I tried to guide myself from away from getting in trouble in school, staying out late, and just getting into trouble at home.  When I started going to P4K I still got in some trouble, but not as bad as it had been.  Before I started meeting with you, I was doing good, but still having some relapses.

M:  This is all new to me.  I knew that school wasn’t perfect, but I had no idea about the “trouble part.”  In the beginning, I remember you always saying everything is good, perfect, school’s great and then finding out later it wasn’t…a few omissions.  However, its fun to laugh about this now.  And, I should add your last report card was awesome (3-As, 2-B+, 1-C+).   <Lauryn’s doing a little victory chair dance about the report card>>

L:  So what made you become a mentor? 
M:  Hmmm.  My reasons were many.  First, I always wished I had an aunt, an older sister, a mentor (not to common when I was a teen), someone in addition to my mom to spend time with me. All of our family was back East, so there wasn’t any extended family to hang-out with.  Personally, I know that if I had had a mentor, especially in my teen years, things in my life would have been better.

As an adult, I’ve learned that mentors can come into your life for a moment, day, long-term.  I’ve been very fortunate and want to share what ever I can to help others, too.

Okay, one more thing, I also like to share my experiences and get people jazzed about things that interest me…such as traveling.  Remember the time I sent you the picture of the multi-purpose, multi-functioning, singing throne (toilet) from Japan. <<we both laugh>>

M:  What do you like best about our time together? 
L:  I like, probably, the time we spend studying.  I like when you quiz me and I learn something and you have fun re-learning a subject.  And, I’ve gotten A’s on my quiz’s after studying.  We have a lot of fun joking and studying. And, I like when we go out, talk. 

M:  In the new year, what would you like to do, try? 
L:   Bungee jumping (smiles).  I’d like to check out some colleges.

M:  I’m all for that, I want to check out graduate schools. 
L:  And, I think I changed what I want to be, or, I have some new options.   I’d like to be a writer or teach - not an author – but instead someone who teaches children and adults how to write.  If kids have to write essays for school or adults have to write for their work, I would like to teach them to be more confident and able to communicate. 

M:  Working with the poetry team has had a big impact on you.  Tell me more about that.  Did you feel confident writing and expressing yourself before? 
L: Yes, in school I always loved writing essays or short story.  But when I was able to write that story about my grandma (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauryn-cheree-fuller/my-angel_b_30312.html) that really opened up something else.  I always knew I loved to write…always had a pen in my hand.  Now, I’ve found something I do well, a talent.  One day in class a teacher asked what was one talent about ourselves that we like and my answer was ‘writing.’  The teacher told me that I was not like a usual 11th grade student, but at a higher level.  When she told me that I felt really good about everything related to my writing - essays, poetry, short stories - sharing my words. 

M:  I love your words…I like how we can talk about anything…life, death, boys, race, gang issues (L), school (L), poverty (L), world politics (M), being sad (M), being happy (L), being confused (L), being open (L).

M:  And, I am often amazed by the depth and knowledge you have at such a young age.  When we talk about difficult of complicated issue, you really think about all perspectives and try to have balance in understanding problems and people and how to make things better. 
L:  I amaze myself sometime.  <Laughter, together> 

M:  Any other thoughts we should share with our audience. 
L:  Having a mentor is good!  I mean you can really learn a lot of things from having a mentor.  They can give a whole lot of insight on things from having a job, a career, or just school.  Not every one fits into college, but I know I want to try. 

M:  L, what are your goals, your dreams: 
L:  My goal is to finish high school and hopefully go to a college.  Right now it doesn’t really matter if it is in Long Beach, the United States.  I would like to just go and see what I like. I can have a major in writing and a minor in fashion.  And, I would love to travel more. 
M: I hope we get to travel together soon. 

M:  So, any last thoughts?
L:  I’m looking forward to a brand new year.  I want to live (said with much exuberance), have fun, learn, go to school. 

If you would like to find out more information on how to become a mentor, please contact Michelle Tattini at mentor@peace4kids.org.

Please take a moment and consider making a gift to Peace4Kids. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us work closer with foster and at-risk youth, and guide their journey into adulthood. It is the only way we will be able to expand and sustain our programs.