Q: Describe what it was like when you first started working with your student? What were your biggest challenges or surprises at the time?  

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A: When I first started, it was absolutely crazy, but all in the best ways possible.  Daniel is the 5th child in a family of 6 children, and they were just beginning their journey with the Refugee Response.  My Tuesdays comprised of hanging out with three young, very energetic and eager kids (4, 9 and 10 at the time).  I would get to the house and for the next 2 hours I would be the kids’ tutor, mentor, entertainment, subject, whatever had the energy of the day.  It was always a challenge to ensure that I addressed all of the kids and did not turn them away, all while attempting to ensure the focus was on my relationship with Daniel.  Often times I had to ask the oldest sister to “role play” by “tutoring” the youngest sister, which would give me time to assess Daniel’s needs.  While this might not mirror everyone’s experience, I think it’s necessary to point out that siblings can and will play a very important role in your 1:1 relationship.  It was fun, exhilarating, and exhausting all at once.  I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about my first few months.

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Q: How has your relationship with your student progressed over time?  

A: Drawing from the experience in the first few months, another challenge was that Daniel was clearly behind in nearly every subject.  If I could sum up our progression over time, it would be to say this – when I first started with Daniel, he could barely get through his “ABC’s” and frequently confused “u” with “n”, or “b” with “d.”  I’m proud to say that by the end of last school year, he successfully read a book from front to back, outloud to me without any help.  In addition to that, our field trip and non-school related time has developed into one of the strongest friendships of my life.  I consider Daniel  and his family an integral part of my extended family, and I feel his immediate family would feel the same about us mentors.

 

Q: Walk us through a typical mentoring session. What do those two hours look like?  

A:  A typical session for me – I arrive at the house and catch up with the family.  Usually a combination of his mother, his older brothers and sister and youngest sister are around.  We catch up on school, and just socialize.  Eventually, Daniel grabs his bookbag and has a very structured homework routine – Math (always first), Reading, Writing workbooks.  We finish his homework in about 45 minutes, then we either talk, play a game, or plan out our next field trip.  I’ve found that my time with Daniel, especially outside of his home for a field trip, is some of the most social time he receives outside of school.  With that said, he very much looks forward to our next field trip and never forgets a single idea that we have considered.  He makes sure I don’t forget too.

 

Q: In what way do you feel you have made the most impact in the life of your mentee?  

A:  Again – I believe my time has impacted Daniel, and the greater family in so many ways.  By visiting Daniel, he gets to learn about life, culture, social topics, and of course academics from an experienced individual who spent 35 years growing up in a country where he just arrived.  Sometimes he shares a lot, other times he is a little bit more timid, but holistically we have a bond that I hope will pay off for him for the rest of his life.  

 

Q: Describe the home environment where you mentor. What have you found challenging or beneficial about meeting your student in that space? 

A: Since a combination of the family is always around, I would describe the environment as exuberant, energetic, and positive.  The entire family is supportive of each other, and everyone is completely dedicated and committed to the success of the others.  That makes it a very open environment to walk into.  I hope that any family seeking help from the Refugee Response will have some semblance of that support system.  The energy in the home can be contagious, however it can also present some challenges – it can be a distracting environment and an especially busy visit can cause Daniel to lose focus.  It’s always a game to find what keeps his eyes on his homework.

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Q:  What have you learned about your student’s culture, and the refugee experience in general through your interaction with this family?  

A: I believe everyone’s experience will probably differ most in this area.  I have tried to focus primarily on the present and future – and try not to ask too many questions about the family’s past.  Some of this is due to their age – they don’t remember much because they were so young when they arrived.  However, I also view my role as someone who is meant to bring Daniel forward to live his best life.  With that approach, his culture and experience is just another part of who he is and will take him on that journey. 

 

Q: Describe one of the most memorable moments from your mentoring this year.  

A:  Definitely a trip to Swings N Things, where Daniel ordered the wrong ice cream, was too polite to tell me he didn’t like it, and let it melt all over his hands.

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Q: How has mentoring with The Refugee Response impacted you personally? Why should others get involved?  

A:  There is so much to give and to gain from the experience with Refugee Response, it is very difficult to sum up in a Q&A.  What I haven’t already covered in the answers above, I guess I’d say this – if I’m having a bad day, I always hope it is Tuesday, because I know I’ll be at Daniel’s at 6PM.  It is hard work, but every drive home comes with laughs, memories, and the continual development and success of a great kid who just wants to live a good life.