My mentor philosophy reflects my belief that everyone has value. By showing my mentees that I value them as both individuals and as members of the society in which I live, I demonstrate to them that they can value themselves as much, if not more, as I do. I also believe in firm flexibility. My students know my rules and my boundaries, and they respect me for setting them, but appreciate that I remain flexible.
I provide opportunities to the students that open their eyes to the possibilities of the future. All of the activities in which the students have participated have been designed to enhance the mentoring relationship and foster an environment of respect, integrity, honor, and citizenship.
Over the course of this year, my empathy has grown tremendously. Although I have always been a person who was classified as a “helper,” I really focused on the fact that I don’t need to fix everything for everyone. Sometimes it is enough to just listen and be there. The long hours and hard work are worth it if you can make a difference in just one young person’s life. I’ve had the opportunity to make a difference in lots of young lives, and I feel honored to have had an impact, no matter how small. – Yvette Brisco (Merced)
