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CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
Feb. 26, 2004

Norwich mentoring programs help with growing community need

By Shauna Rustici
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Throughout the week, dedicated students travel off campus, or to meetings on campus to volunteer in the community. They become mentors to local students who need a little help with a certain subject, or are in need of a role model, or just a friend to hang out with.

While the mentors lend a helping hand to other students, they also gain from the experience.

"I've never had any siblings. My relationship with my mentor became a sister relationship, and I thought that was really great," said Maggs Brady, a 22-year-old senior architecture major from Springfield, Mass.

Norwich University Youth Mentoring Program (NUYMP) matches Norwich students with children from the local areas.

There are currently three programs that Norwich students can get involved in: One-to-Ones, Study Partners, and Good Beginnings, according to the Youth Mentoring Coordinator Moriah Gavrish, a 19-year-old, sophomore architecture major from Derry, N.H.

The One-to-One program is similar to Big Brother/Big Sister programs.

"Norwich students are matched up with a single child, and they do fun activities like sledding and bowling," Gavrish said.

The Study Partners program has sessions Monday and Tuesday nights where "students who go to Middle and High School libraries are paired up with one to two kids and help them with their homework," Gavrish said.

The program is focused on "study-based learning encouragement," according to the information sheet.

The third program, Good Beginnings, is new to Norwich. Gavrish started the program at NU after participating in it during her four years of high school.

"This program allows mentors to work with families that have infants and need an extra hand," Gavrish said.

This new program takes the place of the previous East Montpelier Program. The East Montpelier Program brought a group of mentors to lead activities for elementary students from East Montpelier when those students were brought to the Norwich campus once a week.

It is not going to take place this year because of miscommunications among the coordinators and mentors last year. "Maybe again next year," Gavrish said.

There is a much higher demand for community help than there are mentors, according to Gavrish. "The mentors we have are great, but sometimes we have a hard time keeping them committed," she said.

There are about 25 active mentors this year, and about 50 individuals taking advantage of their help in the community. For the One-to-one program, there is a waiting list of about 10 children.

These programs have a profound effect on both the mentors and the mentees involved.

"These kids, even after one or two visits, create an amazing bond," Gavrish said. "A couple of mentors have been working with kids for three years while they've been at Norwich, and those mentees have really blossomed."

"I've learned how to be more patient; I've learned to just have fun with the little things," said Courtney Smith, a 21-year-old computer science major from Mobile, Ala.

Brady has been a mentor for three and a half years. "I feel that the children are our future, and what better way to influence them than by being involved."

"The programs are very flexible; we try to make it a positive experience for both people," Gavrish explained. "The program is always looking for more interested students to help meet the needs of the community.

"There is no better way to influence a child than to hang out with them and be with them," Brady said.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.