Many young children look up to teenagers, wanting to follow in their footsteps and be just like them. It is important that these children have great role models in order to succeed and prosper. The CFHS Mentor Program has 73 Carolina Forest students who mentor 66 elementary students. Allowing them to have amazing mentors to help them in all walks of their lives, and these students deserve to be highlighted for what they do in our community.
Mentor Program Coordinator Brandyn Raber explains, “As a program, our students are making a meaningful impact by spending one-on-one time with their elementary school mentees. This connection fosters social-emotional growth and communication skills for both the elementary students and our CF students. These young learners are future CFHS Panthers, and through their mentors, they see what success in school looks like while gaining positive role models to emulate.”
Many lessons can be learned by participating in this program, such as kindness and empathy. These lessons can go a long way, especially if you want to teach or mentor people as your profession in the future.
Senior Mentor Madeline Runyon, who has been in the program for two years, expressed, “The mentor program has exposed me to the differences in people’s lives, and I have learned never to take what you have for granted, as well as never to judge someone. You never know what they have going on in their life.”
An article written by Psychology Today titled “Why Role Models Matter,”claims, “Models can be anyone you can learn behaviors from, good or bad, whereas a role model is a positive influence who inspires and guides good behaviors.”
When older, high school students follow principles such as kindness, empathy, compassion, responsibility, and work ethic elementary school kids will often follow them in doing so. This is why mentors are so important for elementary aged kids. Unfortunately, the same applies for students who behave negatively, so it is important that high school students are aware of how they are acting around elementary-aged students.
Sophomore Lillian Weaver shares, “It is very important to me to build a relationship with the child I mentor because I want them to look forward to seeing me. It is important to me to be seen as a positive role model to my mentor and to be someone they look up to.”
No matter the situation it is important to always be a good role model and impact your community in a positive way. These CFHS mentors exemplify what it means to be a good role model; someone who leads by example and always makes sure to shine their light on whoever they encounter.
Picture Credit: Brandyn Raber
